Many executive leaders have thought long and hard about their personal brand and have invested time and effort in developing a persona that shows the world of business what they have to offer.  Building a personal brand is an important step in promoting yourself at work – and is a culmination of what you want the world to see – your experiences, skills and values that make you stand out from the crowd.

So, what happens when, despite all of this work, you’re still being passed over for promotion, or not taken seriously enough as a leader in your field? Are you a senior executive, but feel that you haven’t stepped into your full potential? Building a personal brand is the first step, but it’s also important to develop your Personal Reputation Management Strategy.  Whereas brand is about perception and how others see you, reputation is about credibility and the belief that others have in your ability to live up to your brand statement.

Reputation management is essential for professional success. Many people believe that superior performance in their current position will result in favourable recognition.  But the reality is that doing a great job, often isn’t enough.  It’s the other things you do, the added extras, the little nuances, and how you deal with unexpected issues that matter.  Going the extra mile, as it turns out, is important if you want to succeed.

Of course, managing upwards is a big part of a reputation management strategy. Building a strong relationship with your boss based on mutual respect is important.  Brown-nosing, or sycophantic behaviour, however, can have the opposite effect – you’re unlikely to be impressing your boss – and equally, you’ll be irritating everyone else around you.  If you want to build an effective Reputation Management Strategy, then you’ll need to balance the time and attention you spend between everyone you interact with – your boss, your stakeholders, your peers, direct reports and your customers or external partners.  If you do it properly and nurture your relationships, your contacts, peers and direct reports can be your most ardent supporters.  Why?  Because it contributes to the breadth and depth of your reputation when people speak positively about you.  Take some time for self-reflection and ask yourself what you might be doing that builds your reputation and what you might be doing that gives others a poor impression of you.  Are there things you can change about your own behaviour? Do you have someone in your network advocating on your behalf and championing your strengths?

“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” 
― Henry Ford

Building executive presence is another step in your Reputation Management Strategy.  Leaders with presence know how to show up.  They speak with authority, exude confidence, make things happen, and make sound judgments based on superior knowledge and emotional intelligence.  If career progression is important to you, then it’s important to focus on developing your presence.  

• Understand your intent and your motivations. Once you’re clear about them, make sure you communicate them. 
• Identify someone you admire, who has the qualities you want.  What is it about them that allows them to hold the room?  Watch, listen and learn.  
• Communication is crucial – understanding what to say, when to say it, and how to say it, as well as when it is best to say nothing at all.  The power of silence cannot be overstated.   Consider how you speak and incorporate vocal variety – understand when to slow down, inflect, and lower your tone. 
• Stay true to your values and goals – the personal brand that you carefully cultivated should remain your guide.  Leaders with great presence, are also consistent.
• Focus on non-verbal communication.  How you hold yourself, your posture, your body language, and how you use eye contact can all help maximize your interactions with others.
• Be genuine and true to yourself.  If you’re an introvert by nature, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll feel comfortable developing your executive presence in the same manner that Howard Schultz did. Consider your strengths and your natural abilities.  Ruth Bader-Ginsburg was described as an introvert who nevertheless exuded presence by being authentically strong.
• Finally, take your time.  Executive presence doesn’t develop overnight, it’s a journey.  

By following these steps, you can start to work on developing your Reputation Management Strategy. An Executive Coach can help you understand your motivations, plan your goals, develop your skills, improve your communications and support you to let go of self-limiting beliefs. If you’d like to find out more about working with me, book a no-obligation consultation here: https://appt.link/victoria-orr-coaching/consultation