Can You Determine Your Industry Reputation?
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Of what value is a reputation? Well, that depends on the type you have. A bad reputation, of course, could limit you from various opportunities or even preclude market access. It could make it harder to launch a business with partners, attract investment, hire people, or move industries. You might think of it as having poor credit - you can still live, but the opportunities available to you are fewer.
The same could be said for a good reputation. If you have one, people might be willing to work with you more often. You could even launch a startup with people who are willing to work for a low salary to begin with, solely trusting your idea. As we saw when Gordon Ramsay left his head chef position at The Aubergine in London to open his own namesake restaurant, half of his staff left with him.
But how can you determine your own industry reputation, provided you’ve been in a public-facing or senior enough position to begin attracting one? What are the metrics? In this post, we’ll determine that and more:
Your Connections & Networked Contacts
Your network often speaks volumes about your reputation. That doesn’t mean being friends with everyone but having made good connections over your career. Having a network of professionals who respect your work and can vouch for your abilities is a strong indicator of a positive reputation - as we all find out each time we call on references for a new job.
That’s why it’s best to always leave a workplace amicably. If a business owner is willing to engage with you, answer your calls, or sing your priases, it suggests you're viewed as a valuable person. Your reputation is often reflected in the company you keep and the doors that open when you reach out. This also shows that reputation isn’t one singular static thing - but an image each person you reach out to defines for themselves. So it’s wise to be affable.
Your Net Worth
While money isn't everything nor is it even a majority, in business, financial success can be something of a measure of reputation. Your net worth can show your ability to make sound decisions and work through the complexities of your industry.
However, the story behind your net worth matters just as much as the number itself. A fortune built through ethical principles, innovative ideas, and hard work carries more weight than one acquired through luck or questionable means. It’s why we tend to value a self-starter who became successful than someone who inherited everything. At least with a net worth tracker, you’ll understand how you’re viewed.
Your Values & Principles
We alluded to this above but it bears repeating - your reputation is most of all linked to your values and principles. All things being well, they should form the core of your professional identity and influence how others perceive you. Think of Steve Irwin, the late Crocodile Hunter, and his family. Not everyone can tell you exactly what they did, but most people know they loved conservation and put everything into it.
But values are nothing without consistency and applying them appropriately. If you're known as someone who stands by their principles, even when it's inconvenient, it enhances your reputation. People are more likely to want to work with, invest in, or hire someone they trust. It could be the difference between an employee coming to you with a workplace issue or hiding it.
Your Online Discussions
Most people know, for better or worse, that a digital footprint can influence how we’re seen. If you’re great at work but post long rants on Facebook or LinkedIn, that’s all anyone will know you for. It’s why businesses often scour social media to make sure there’s nothing dodgy out there.
If you do appreciate being online, thoughtful posts to industry forums, insightful comments on professional sites, and sharing valuable content can help you become a thought leader. You might even share the goings-on of your business. That said, engaging in online arguments, sharing controversial opinions without context, being thin-skinned against criticism, or being overly negative can harm your reputation. This is hardly a rare thing. We often see creative individuals in the news because of how they relate to their online life, such as singers, actors, filmmakers, and more.
If you’re inclined, searching your name to see what pops up can’t hurt. If there are no results, that’s generally a good thing.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily determine your industry reputation moving forward.