"What is the best lesson someone else taught you about managing your reputation?"

Jerry T. asks "What is the best lesson someone else taught you about managing your reputation?"

What I like about this question is that Jerry is seeking knowledge and the wisdom from it. He hasn't assumed he has all the answers (none of us do). All of us have our own experiences and what we know we have learned or what we think we have learned (which might be accurate or inaccurate). Often, other people can help us through our blind spots. 

I think about all that I've learned from others. No matter how intelligent I believe I am, again that might be accurate or less than accurate, I have learned so much from others. I say all this because Jerry is wise by realizing this and I have come to do so too, as my response below will show.

Hi Jerry,

Mike Mooney wrote Reputation Shift. In an article where he was interviewed, he talked about the wisdom and necessity of having a “spotter” in your life.

A spotter is someone you can trust, who has your best interests in mind, who will tell you what you're not seeing when you are straying off course or are making dangerous decisions.

Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates isn't talking about reputation when he talks about seeking out credible people to disagree with you and determine their reasoning and how they came to their conclusion, yet to me it's a similar protective idea and mindset.

Smart question.

Michael

Michael Toebe is a specialist for reputation, professional relationships communication and wiser crisis management. He helps individuals and organizations more successfully interpret, respond and navigate conflict and crisis.