How to Guard Your Reputation & Words Well

There’s almost nothing as important as your name and word. Especially in business and professional life. Family, friends, customers, associates, and bosses love you when they hear good things about you, your products, or services. BUT… The moment your reputation is stained, those same people may now withdraw their support and patronage. Why?

Lack of credibility (a poor reputation) breeds DISTRUST. How important then is a Good Reputation? I’ll let the richest man who ever lived answer that:

1. Watch Your Words! Bite your tongue if you must. Think before you speak!

2. Do What You Say You Will Do. Keep your promises or be slow and infrequent to make them in the first place. It builds trust and confidence when you do.

3. Do Quality Work. Produce the best quality service and products possible.

4. Respect and Honor your Parents. I’ll let you ponder the significance of that one.

5. Respect and Honor Those in Authority over you (including your boss, teacher, pastor, manager, etc.). Honor begets honor.

6. Never Take or Give Bribes. It may come back to bite you later. Don’t steal either!

7. Don’t be so Cynical, Critical, or Condemning. The Golden Rule Principle, Law of Restitution, and The Law of Sowing and Reaping may not forgive you for it. So beware!

Think about this:

“Your boss is always hearing things about you” from coworkers and possibly those closest to you. People love to ‘please the boss’ so they’re always speaking into his or her ears. Sometimes to gain favor and sometimes as part of the job description. So make sure that what gets said about you improves your reputation rather than weakens it.

Think about this too:

“If others constantly gossip to you about someone else. Chances are, they’ll also gossip to others about you.” So master your words. Speak only those things you won’t mind hearing again from others or reading about on the news. Don’t even curse the rich and successful (or you may never be one of them).

This post goes along well with 7 Important Life Investments to maximize the power of reputation capital.