Professional Reputation Management

After 15 years in sales and coaching 200+ enterprise AEs, I've seen careers destroyed by one simple mistake: They treat their professional reputation like it'll manage itself. Wrong. Your career IS your business. And like any business, it needs systems. Here are the 5 non-negotiables that separate top 1% earners from everyone else: 1. Logo Documentation = Your Revenue Proof Stop thinking you'll remember every win. You won't. I've watched $300K+ earners fumble interviews because they couldn't recall specific client victories from 3 years ago. Keep a running Google doc. Update it monthly. Your future self will thank you when you're negotiating your next $400K+ package. 2. Harvest Recommendations Before You Need Them Most reps ask for LinkedIn recommendations during layoffs. That's backwards. Ask within 30 days of any major win while the dopamine is fresh. These become referral letters that live forever. I've seen single recommendations unlock $50K salary bumps. 3. Screenshot Every Compliment = Interview Gold That Slack message saying you "saved the quarter"? Screenshot it. The client email calling you their "best vendor partner ever"? Save it. These aren't vanity metrics—they're social proof that closes hiring managers. Create a "Career Wins" folder. Use it. 4. Personal CRM = Your Million-Dollar Rolodex VCs worth $100M+ use personal CRMs to track their networks. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for you. Your network IS your net worth. Track touchpoints. Set follow-up reminders. The VP who remembers your kid's name gets the referral. 5. Systems Beat Goals Every Time "We do not rise to the level of our goals. We FALL to the level of our SYSTEMS." -James Clear. Block 30 minutes monthly to update everything above. Make it sacred time. Non-negotiable. — Your reputation is your revenue engine. Manage it like one. Or watch competitors with worse skills but better systems pass you by.

Reputation is like a coconut tree. Slow to grow, yet falls to the ground quickly. Reputation and trustworthiness is the basis of leadership, no matter the job. It is built over many years, one word at a time, one action at a time, one deed at a time. In leadership, few things matter more. Your reputation is among your most treasured and powerful assets. It is your currency, and it’s at the foundation of how we distinguish ourselves. Our reputation is ours, very personal but also very easy to lose or damage. What is yours? And how do you cultivate and grow your coconut reputation tree? Recently, I was reminded—yet again—just how challenging it can be to build a positive reputation. In our case, a competitor deliberately misrepresented Luminary to a client, in a ham fisted attempt to damage our standing so that it benefit their own. It was frustrating to know that any attempt to defend ourselves would only escalate the situation, so in this case, we needed to "cop it on the chin." We didn’t deviate from our course. In fact, this knowledge inspired us to double down on delivering exceptional service. I am pleased to say that our actions and character spoke for themselves, with our client kicking the competitor to the kerb. I was a little surprised, why did you do that I asked? “Actions speak louder than words. And your results are all we need,” came the response from our client. Reputations are painstakingly built but can be lost in an instant. So, how do you go about strengthening or improving yours? Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut. Reputation-building is a long game that requires consistent effort and authenticity over time. Here are some things I consider when it comes to reputation: (1) Assess your reputation: Understand how others perceive you. Seek feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends. (2) Define your values: Clarify the principles and values that guide your behaviour and decisions. (3) Build meaningful relationships: Strong networks built on trust are invaluable for reputation-building. (4) Develop your expertise: Stay ahead by continuously refining your skills and knowledge. (5) Deliver results: Always strive for excellence in your work. (6) Seek feedback and grow from it: Embrace constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve. (7) Communicate positively: Avoid gossip or negativity and focus on being known for discretion and professionalism. (8) Pay it forward: Contribute without expecting anything in return. (9) Act with integrity: Be honest, transparent, and ethical. Follow through on commitments, own your mistakes, and treat others with respect. Finally, remember this: You can’t fake being trustworthy or reliable if you are neither. Mistakes will happen, but they don’t have to define you. Building a reputation is a long-term process that requires patience, consistency, and authenticity. Like a coconut tree, reputations grow slowly yet like a coconut can fall to the ground quickly.

Every senior woman leader in law has a reputation. It is the sum of your wins, your integrity, and the way others describe you. But reputation alone is not enough in today’s legal marketplace. Your personal brand is different. It is intentional, future-focused, and fully within your control. For managing partners and general counsel leading at the highest levels, understanding the distinction between the two is no longer optional. It is essential. Reputation is earned over years through performance, integrity, and results. It is shaped by what clients whisper after a deal closes, by how colleagues describe your leadership in your absence, or by the perception created through one high-profile matter. Reputation is the result of past actions. As one managing partner once confided to me, “I know I have a strong reputation, but I don't know how to define or leverage it." Do you feel that way about your reputation too? Personal brand, by contrast, is intentional. It is the clear, strategic articulation of who you are, what you stand for, and the value you bring. It extends beyond your firm or company into the broader legal marketplace. Unlike reputation, personal brand allows you to frame the narrative rather than leaving it to others. Think of reputation as the verdict others deliver, while brand is the case you build. Clients are choosing differently. A recent Thomson Reuters survey found that 50% of corporate counsel retain outside counsel based on the lawyer’s individual brand and thought leadership, not just the firm name. Talent is watching. Emerging lawyers want to work for leaders who are visible, authentic, and aligned with values that matter to them. Reputation alone may inspire respect, but brand inspires followership. Without a well-defined brand, you risk being known only for the matters you have handled, rather than the leader you are becoming. Build Your Brand Beyond Your Reputation 1. Clarify Your Narrative. Identify the strengths you want to be known for, such as trusted dealmaker, visionary leader, or culture-builder. Articulate them consistently in how you speak, write, and lead. 2. Amplify Your Voice. Share insights on industry trends, client challenges, and leadership lessons. A published article, a LinkedIn post, or a keynote presentation can magnify your influence beyond your immediate circle. 3. Align Brand With Business Goals. Your brand should accelerate, not compete with, your firm or company’s strategy. Ensure that your visibility reinforces client retention, talent development, and long-term growth. As you reflect on your next chapter of leadership, remember that your reputation will always follow you, but your personal brand is what will carry you forward. Choosing to shape it with clarity and intention is not about self-promotion, it is about alignment, influence, and impact. How do you want to be known in this next season of your leadership?

A harsh truth I’ve learned in my 20-year HR career: Your professional reputation speaks louder than your resume. ⤷ I’ve seen two types of professionals. ⤷ Those who shape their reputations. ⤷ And those who let others define them. In a group of 10 HR managers —7 are judged more by reputation than by qualifications. Your reputation is built by your actions, communication, and decisions. Here are 7 ways to make your reputation work for you: 1. 𝗕𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 – Follow through on commitments. 2. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 – Be transparent to avoid misunderstandings. 3. 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 – Accountability builds trust. 4. 𝗕𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 – Treat everyone with respect, no matter their role. 5. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 – Social media affects your reputation. 6. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 – Be known as someone who supports others. 7. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 – Align your actions with your words. ⤷ It’s not just about your job. ⤷ It’s about the legacy you leave. ⤷ Every interaction builds your professional reputation. Ask yourself: What does your professional reputation say about you? ♻️Share this post to remind your network about the importance of a strong professional reputation. Need help with a project?  Set up a call 📞 #Adamshr #Hrprofessionals #humanresources #HR Stephanie Adams, SPHR

Here are 3 things I’d focus on if I were building a reputation management strategy from scratch: 1️⃣ Focus on the metrics that matter. - Star ratings are helpful, but they’re not the full picture. - Review volume, frequency, and response rates directly impact your Google Business Profile ranking. - These metrics are what drive visibility and meaningful growth. 2️⃣ Set higher review targets. - 10–15 reviews per month might seem reasonable, but it’s not enough. - The sweet spot is 40–60 reviews monthly. - At this volume, patterns emerge, and feedback becomes actionable strategy. 3️⃣ Let technology do the heavy lifting. - Manually tracking reviews across platforms wastes time. - Use tools to aggregate sentiment, highlight trends, and identify opportunities. - The real insights come from patterns, not individual reviews. When I shifted my perspective from damage control to proactive engagement, everything changed. It’s no longer just about managing reputation—it’s about building a competitive advantage that lasts. 🚘 We analyzed thousands of customer interactions. Who’s leading in auto brand reputation? 👉 https://lnkd.in/eidqMbAx 📢 1,000,000+ authentic reviews generated. We help you take control of your reputation 👉 https://www.widewail.com

In 2019, Hemmat Law Group had a Google rating of 2.9. In only 11 months, we were at 4.8 stars. How did we do it? By creating an amazing client relations experience that we can deliver consistently. Here are four of the things we focused on to improve our reputation management: 1. Ask Not for the Firm Clients don't care about your business. They care about the people that worked with them. At the end of the matter, or after a large victory, have the staff that worked closest with the client ask directly for a review. And don't be afraid to share that client reviews are how they are graded. Clients love to throw their legal team a bone if it costs them nothing. 2. Reward Your Team Reward your team in any way you can, in ways big and small, when they reel in a good review. It helps everyone - both management and their coworkers. So treat good reviews like the forward-facing victory it is. Don't be stingy with praise, and don't be miserly with reward. Incentive drives behavior and it'll boost morale, to boot. 3. Speak Their Language Find ways to communicate in ways that your clients do. Ideally, text your review links whenever possible. No one reads their email. Get some legal tech that lets you seamlessly communicate on smartphone or SMS platforms, and use that advantage over your competitors to boost your ratings. 4. Send Gifts to Everyone Find a local business to partner with. Could be a bakery, a candy store, a gift shop. Something with universal appeal. For us, we chose a cookie shop. Then, send gift baskets (with personalized and firm-branded cards) in the mail at strategic points throughout your client's case. The investment in the goodwill is small, and the upside payoff is HUGE. As an added benefit, your clients will also become easier to work with - important in family law. And now that we've gotten to a great spot, we feel the pressure of maintaining this level of client service. It's a much better problem to have.

Businesses of all sizes are facing a PR challenge like never before. A tsunami of online outrage that often comes out of nowhere and catches them unprepared. Recently, a high-profile news event prompted employees, and owners, to share opinions on social media. They quickly found out that personal posts have professional consequences. As the kids would say, their social media channels blew-up. From Fortune 500 companies to small local businesses, these situations show how employee activity can rapidly impact brand reputation, customer perception, and online reviews. For example: Lucius Q BBQ – A co-owner faced backlash after controversial social media posts. The company quickly distanced itself, lost vendor contracts, and saw high-profile relationships severed.  Office Depot – A manager refused to fulfill a printing request. The incident led to termination, public backlash, and a company apology, along with reinforced training on customer respect and nondiscrimination. Tips to prepare and respond: 🔹Develop and share a clear social media policy with all employees.  🔹Train leaders and staff on crisis communication best practices.  🔹Monitor social conversations for early warning signs.  🔹Respond with transparency and empathy when situations escalate. After 15+ years in this game, I’ve seen what happens when companies aren’t ready. A few missteps online and suddenly a manageable problem turns into a full-blown headache. Planning ahead isn’t glamorous, but it’s what keeps brands, and people, out of the fire. PR crises don’t wait. And neither can your strategy. #CrisisCommunications #ReputationManagement #CommunicationsStrategy #LeadershipCommunication #EmployeeEngagement