Top 10 Reputation Management Tips for 2009
You don’t have to be famous or represent a corporation or government to be concerned about your reputation. Every person alive needs to properly manage their reputation. With the new year, I thought I would share my list of the top 10 reputation management tips for everyone to remember.
1. Reputation management is the building, maintaining and repairing of an individual or organization’s reputation. It is an estimation of character and integrity. It is everything!
2. Ego management is an important first step in reputation management. When your ego is too big, it is impossible to best repair your reputation. Replace ego-driven communication with humble, honest and transparent communication.
3. A long-term, positive, reputation must be built on truth and not lies or spin. The “bricks” of an excellent, lasting reputation also include truth, honesty, transparency, accountability, humility and consistency.
4. The court of law is only half of the picture and it is usually short term, while the court of public opinion is long term and holds the key to your reputation.
5. A true apology has no “ifs” or “buts” in it. Spin is a four-letter word!
6. Most people have reputations in crisis due to fear and hurt others and themselves. Ask yourself the following question: how am I hurting and affecting other people with my behavior?
7. There is a big difference between an image and a reputation. An image usually short term and can be an illusion (like an image on a pond). Public images are often fabricated and untrue, like those in Hollywood. A reputation is what you actually are (both good and bad) and is built on a foundation of truth.
8. When faced with the choice of protecting another person or organization’s damaged reputation or your own, most people choose their own reputation every time. Remember that!
9. Life is filled with second chances. You always have the opportunity to come clean and right a wrong. However, the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be. Time is not your friend, don’t wait!
10. To build an excellent reputation, you must have a true accountability partner. A true accountability relationship includes honesty with a capital H. You must also share all of your struggles and wrong doing with your accountability partner. You must also give your accountability partner permission to “call you” on the things you are doing wrong and also allow your accountability partner to praise you for the things you are doing right. Your good friend, spouse, sibling, pastor or priest are all excellent examples of accountability partners. Choose an accountability partner today!
Remember, do the right thing when your reputation is in crisis and seek the counsel of an experienced reputation management expert. It will be a major challenge, but ultimately the rewards of repairing your reputation will be great. Why? Because Your Reputation Is Everything!™
Author and Editor: Mike Paul
The Reputation Doctor is a nickname given to him by a global client years ago. Mike appears regularly on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, TruTV (formerly Court TV), ABC News, ESPN, CBS News, BBC, and others as a weekly contributor and expert in the global news regarding corporations, CEOs, celebrities, athletes, politicians and other public organizations and public individuals with reputations in crisis. Mike is also interviewed often by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Washington Post, NY Daily News, NY Post, Business Week, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek and others. Mr. Paul is also president and senior counselor of MGP & Associates PR, a leading strategic public relations and reputation management firm based in New York. For interview requests, keynote speeches, senior counseling or other business opportunities with Mr. Paul, please click here.
