REPUTATION

Let’s unearth what lies behind building our reputation.  What is it, how do we earn it, and what can we focus on to nourish it?

Reputation:  beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone, a widespread belief that someone has a particular habit or characteristic; quality of character.  Building reputation takes time, effort, and consistency.  

3 critical roots lie at the heart of building a strong reputation:  radical empathy, respect, and role modeling.

Radical empathy- begins with believing the best about people.  Having empathy is to have the ability to understand and share the feeling of someone else, put ourselves in their shoes.  To have radical empathy is to say I hear you, I see you, and I will actively attempt to understand your perspective.  It’s not dishonestly agreeing or obliging, it’s making the effort to take on their perspective and more authentically connect, even when it feels uncomfortable. Radical empathy is admission that we don’t know exactly where someone else is coming from, but we have a willingness to be curious and do whatever we can to learn and try to understand.  It’s taking the time to slow down and circle back, follow-up, ask more thoughtful questions.

Respect- is different than being liked.  Respect requires trust and is earned.  My favorite definition of trust comes from Charles Feltman: Trust is choosing to risk making something you value vulnerable to another person’s actions.  The strength of our reputation comes from the trust we build with others, and it takes time.  Trust and respect are built in a million small moments.  We often trust what we can predict, earning trust requires us to be consistent.  Respect comes from having the hard conversation, setting and holding the boundary, owning our own mistakes, and apologizing when we get it wrong.

Role Modeling- A strong reputation is often found in someone who is a role model for others, people can count on them.  A role model is someone whose actions are congruent to their words, they walk the talk.  The high standards they have for their own life keeps them committed to constant learning and growth.  They role model resiliency, regardless of what’s in front of them.  Who is a role model for you?  I’d venture to guess they have an incredible reputation.

How can you strengthen your reputation, in this season?  
How can you exercise radical empathy this week?Who looks to YOU to role model and how can you better show-up?

The world feels like it’s shifting again to me.  You’ve been going hard, be kind to you and breathe.  As we talk a lot about around here--your capacity to give and serve others rises only to the level in which you’re willing to show-up for you.  Stay committed to building your character, do the self-work.  If you take care of your character, your reputation will take care of itself.  Anchor in trust that what you’re building and working through right now has more power and impact than what might yet be visible.