The Slowest Way To Build A Reputation

Whether you are trying to run a business or build a subscriber base for your blog, reputation is something that concerns you. It is no secret that a good reputation increases your likelihood of success in either situation. What is too often forgotten is that when you really need the good reputation, it is most likely too late to build it.

How Did She Earn Trust?

My daughter is in the middle of her high school years. These are not normally the years when kids are known for their responsibility, right? Yet one of her teachers asked if she would be willing to help her over Spring Break. The teacher needed a pet sitter while she was out of town and wanted my daughter to do it.

As I was later having a conversation with my daughter, I asked her if she understood how impressive it was to have been asked to do this. I asked her what she thought she had done to earn that trust. Based on her hesitation to answer, I knew she was not exactly sure.

Slowly Built Reputation

What I explained to her is a truth that we often forget, even as adults! I explained that over the past months and years, my daughter had slowly built a reputation for being responsible. She had built this reputation with her good study habits, her responsible decision making in (and outside of) school, and her consistency of attitude.

As a result of these factors, I explained that when the teacher needed a responsible student, her name had popped up at the top of the list. There was likely no single action from my daughter that gave the teacher confidence in her fit for the job. It was more likely a track record of my daughters actions and behaviors that did it.

Simple Truth, Often Forgotten

I think we all realize the basic truth illustrated in this story – reputation is built over time. What we may forget is how that plays out in life and business – especially in our own situations.

With social media and technology amplifying our message, we may get tricked into thinking we can build a reputation from scratch in very little time. The truth is that we probably can, to a degree.

Won’t Come Quickly

We can certainly build a bad reputation very quickly…that’s easy. But even when you stick to building a good reputation, it may be possible to build it in a relatively short period of time with the aid of the internet.

The problem, I believe, is that this “good reputation” is still shallow and relatively weak. I mean that it may be good on the surface, but it will likely not withstand much attack without failing.

A business that has a good, but quickly-earned, reputation may not be able to maintain that reputation if only a couple of challenges to that reputation appear. One or two bad reviews online or a couple of sour former employees might be able to render that reputation useless.

Durable Reputation

On the other hand, it is different with a good reputation that has been earned over time…action-by-action and decision-by-decision. This reputation can withstand challenges from problem situations or contrary opinions.

While no reputation is fully bullet-proof (think Coach Joe Paterno, Bill Cosby, etc.), a good reputation built over time cannot be reversed except under fairly extreme conditions. As long as we avoid these exceptions, we should be fine.

Don’t Wait Too Late!

I said it earlier, but it bears repeating. When you really need the good reputation – for whatever reason – it is then too late to build it. The building process happens over time, not overnight. Waiting until you need a good reputation to think about how to build it…that’s just not good enough.

Maybe that is why the author of Proverbs said the following about a good name:

A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold. – Proverbs 22:1

Do you and your company have a good reputation already?

How have you been trying to build a good reputation?

Have you seen the pitfalls of a quickly built reputation?