3 Ways to Develop a Good Reputation on the Job

Your reputation at work is important and can be the difference between an advancing career or one that is stuck in neutral.

A positive reputation means that others recognize your skills and integrity and have you in mind for new opportunities, while a bad reputation can mean you’re easily dismissed from consideration for those opportunities.

Make an effort to safeguard your reputation in the workplace by focusing on these three areas.

Appropriate work relationships. You have a job to do and your employer wants to see that as your focus. Your workplace should not function like a bar; you’re not on the job to pick someone up. Avoid a pattern of workplace romance and flirtation or your boss will view that as your primary interest in the job and won’t deem you a serious candidate for more responsibility.

Watch what you say. And how you say it. Learn to communicate effectively and be positive. Your reputation will be harmed if you speak poorly of your boss and those you work with or are always complaining about your workplace and its practices. Your words should reflect your integrity and character and build up your reputation, rather than tear it down. 

Work hard. Of course, one of the most important things you can do for your reputation at your workplace is to do a good job and work hard. If you become known as someone who can be relied on to do great work you will end up with more opportunities in the future.

Unlike some aspects of our lived, our reputation is something that we can control and change by living out our values, and ensuring that we conduct ourselves with integrity, both on the job and in our relationships with our colleagues and manager.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Making a Career Change

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Making a Career Change: "Sometimes the only way to be viewed in a different light is to walk into a new room. If your challenge is that you are ready for a promotion, but your company does not take you seriously for a more senior role, you may need to change the scene."
• Does Your Organization Focus on Employee Experience?: "If we want to attract and retain top talent in our organizations, we must create an experience that makes employees WANT to show up to work."
• 10 Daily Habits Holding You Back From Success: "You think that you can do a better job, so you just do it yourself. Or, you constantly correct or micromanage your team, which drains their motivation and distracts you from doing what you do best."
• How to Change Your Poor Personal Reputation at Work: "Changing the perception that others have of you is hard work, but, with persistence, it’s do-able."
• You Need to Practice Being Your Future Self: "You need to spend time on the future even when there are more important things to do in the present and even when there is no immediately apparent return to your efforts."

5 Steps to Developing a Positive Reputation at Your Workplace

In order to achieve great things in your life and career you need to work at it. Success will not be handed to you without putting in the time necessary. One key to becoming successful in your career is to develop a great reputation in your workplace. This will carry over to other jobs as your former colleagues speak positively and enthusiastically about you and the work you do.

Here are five steps to developing a great reputation at work:

1. Do great work. Of course the first thing you need to do is deliver on your promises. Do great work, deliver it on time (or preferably early), and meet or exceed any financial targets for your work. Doing a great job in all aspects of your work is the foundation for your reputation.

2. Be of service. Support your colleagues and co-workers and provide assistance when and where needed. Be the first to volunteer to help on a project or step in when another colleague is out sick.

3. Participate in task-forces or work groups. Get to know others within your company and increase your understanding of the industry by participating in cross-functional teams, task-forces, and other types of work groups.

4. Avoid negative talk. Do not criticize your supervisor or upper management in conversation with your colleagues. If you have an issue or concern take it directly to your supervisor of executive. Make every effort to speak positively about your work and the people you work with. Be a source of encouragement, rather than another naysayer in the workplace.

5. Be kind. In addition to doing great work, your reputation will be cemented by the way you treat people. Don't just watch your words. Your body language can indicate that you're not listening to someone or don't respect their opinion. And be kind to everyone, including the person at the front desk when you walk in. Greet everyone with a smile and treat them with kindness and you will be well on your way to developing a positive reputation at work.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 7 Tips to Boost Your Reputation at Work

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 7 Tips to Boost Your Reputation at Work: "You might be sabotaging your success by choosing the wrong words when you speak. Your word choice influences how others perceive you."
• Keeping a Journal to Become an Outstanding Leader: "Extraordinary leadership is rooted in several capabilities: seeing before others see, understanding before others understand, and acting before others act."
• 6 Things Great Leaders Do Differently: "It’s through a leader’s actions—what he or she does and says on a daily basis—that the essence of great leadership becomes apparent."
• Sleep Deprivation is Killing You and Your Career: "The short-term productivity gains from skipping sleep to work are quickly washed away by the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation on your mood, ability to focus and access to higher-level brain functions for days to come."
• 9 Phrases Smart People Never Use in Conversation: "In everyday conversation, it’s the little things that make all the difference. Try these suggestions out, and you’ll be amazed at the positive response you get."

5 Steps for Rebuilding Your Reputation and Your Career

Your reputation is everything. It defines you and influences how others view you and respond to you. If you do something to harm your work reputation--throw frequent temper tantrums, get drunk at the company picnic, cheat--it can have long-lasting and far-reaching consequences for your career.

How do you rebuild your reputation when you've harmed it in the workplace?

Consider the following 5 steps to begin the rebuilding process.

1. Understand and recognize the problem. The first thing you need to do is recognize and take
responsibility for what happened without blaming others. You alone are responsible for your behavior and actions. You also need to understand the problem. Do you have an anger management issue? Or do you have a drinking problem? Or difficulties responding to authority?

2. Seek help. Once you've identified the problem you need to seek out support and help. This might come in the form of professional therapy, a self-help group, or through a mentoring relationship.

3. Make amends. Seek out those you might have offended or hurt by your behavior and apologize and seek to restore the relationship.

4. Demonstrate humility. It might take some time before you are able to return to the level you were previously at in your career. You might take a pay cut or work in a position with fewer responsibilities. You need to humbly accept the position you now find yourself in and strive to use it to make you more effective and better in your work and career.

5. Do great work. Finally, you must do your very best work and demonstrate excellence in everything you do. Others will respond to the humble way you go about your work and the great job you do. This recognition will begin to turn around your reputation.

It is not easy to rebuild your reputation but with some patience, humility, and hard work, you can restore the successful career you once had.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Rachel Botsman and Reputation

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In this TED talk, author Rachel Botsman  speaks about the importance of our reputation and the implications this has for collaborating with others and developing our careers. She says, "with every trade we make, comment we leave, person we flag, badge we earn, we leave a reputation trail." 

Watch the video below for more:

Your First Professional Job Prepares You for Success

You’ve landed your first professional job. Consider it a foot in the door and time to do your very best. Your first professional job can and should be the start of a journey that leads to a rewarding and satisfying career.

Establish a Good Reputation

Make a name for yourself, and make sure it is a positive one. Do this by demonstrating that you are a team player, as well as hard-working, reliable, smart, and willing to listen and learn from others. Work with passion and strive for excellence in every task you undertake.

Learn from Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes, particularly people who are new to a company and industry. Recognize you’re bound to make a few mistakes; the important thing is how you handle them. Be accountable for your mistakes and inform those who may be impacted. Proactively look for ways to solve any problems you may cause. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Mistakes are great opportunities for learning.

Build a Network

Your first professional job is an opportunity to build strong relationships—relationships that can last throughout your career. Make an effort to meet and network with as many people as you can; take a genuine interest in them and what they are doing professionally. Remember, a strong network must be continually fostered and grown.

By doing your very best in your first job, you will likely open doors to your next, whether it’s an opportunity for advancement with your current employer or another organization. This first job can be the one that puts you on the path to career success.