The most important value in your career is not your technical skills, level of education, or a title that sounds good. It is neither your acquaintances nor your business relationships. The most important is reputation, writes The Ladders.
In every job, people will wonder if you have what it takes to perform tasks and if you can “get along” with different types of people. They will be more than intrigued if you can also handle crises and troubles. To take control of your own professional reputation, you need more than good daily performance. Consider the following effective actions that will enhance your reputation and credibility in the workplace:
Do not go unprepared
Priscilla, a marketing employee, was excited to be invited to a meeting with a department head she admired. At the time, preoccupied with her ongoing projects, she briefly glanced at the materials sent in advance before the meeting. Upon arriving at the meeting, she asked a series of simple questions to which she could have easily found the answers had she carefully read the materials beforehand. The brief interaction in front of a powerful and influential group led them to see her as very poorly prepared. Think of preparation as a sign of respect for your audience.
Be consistent
Have you ever worked with someone who was particularly moody, leading you to question which character you would get on a given day? When colleagues see you that way, it frustrates them and distracts from your knowledge and talent. Leadership expert and author Selena Rezvani explains how, while working on a project, she encountered a reliable, pleasant, and effective project assistant who did much more than her tasks and what she was asked. Her consistency at all times, from emails to meetings – even voicemails – led the author to think, “this woman will not be in that role for long.”
