How to Build a Reliable Reputation in the Workplace

Trust is built through actions, not words! Trust is at the heart of any effective leadership style. I’ve found that it can make or break a team's performance, morale and overall success. Today, I want to share some insights on building and maintaining trust within your team, based on my 20+ years of experience in leadership roles. Transparency is Key: Share important updates, both good and bad. If something isn't going well, it’s better to let your team know rather than keeping them in the dark. People appreciate honesty. Open-Door Policy: Make sure you're approachable. If team members feel they can come to you with any problems or suggestions, you’re on the right track. Be Consistent: Try to treat everyone fairly and keep your promises. If people know what to expect from you, they're more likely to trust you. Acknowledge Mistakes: We're all human... we all make mistakes. Owning up to them shows maturity and reliability, two qualities that help build trust. Provide Feedback: Positive or constructive, feedback helps team members know where they stand and how they can improve. It's a two-way street... encourage them to provide you with feedback too. Tip: Always use Positive Reinforcement when giving feedback... don't make it all about the individuals shortcomings. Empower Your Team: Delegating tasks or responsibilities not only shows you trust your team's skills but also encourages their own development. The sense of ownership they get from it often leads to better results. Show Appreciation: Recognize and reward good work. Simple acts of appreciation can go a long way in building a positive and trusting work environment. Stick to Your Values: Integrity is crucial. If your actions reflect your words, people are more likely to trust you. Active Listening: Take the time to listen to your team's concerns and ideas. This not only fosters trust but can also provide you with valuable insights. Follow Through: If you commit to something, do everything in your power to make it happen. This confirms that you're reliable, further building trust. Leadership isn't about pretending to have all the answers. Simon Sinek - "In leadership, the quickest way to lose trust is to pretend you have all the answers. The best way to build it is to prove you don't." #LeadershipTrust #BuildingTeams #TransparencyInLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EffectiveLeadership

🍩 Reputational Cushion - do you have one? Probably not a term you've thought of, and maybe I made it up, but think of it like career insurance. For many of us, the early days of our career coincides with less responsibilities and less baggage* outside the workplace. The early days of a new role or a new team are just the same. We know first impressions matter but are you thinking of them like deposits into your reputation savings account? Take those early days to build up your #reputationalcushion by: 😰 Putting in extra hours Yeah, yeah I said it. I owe my accelerated growth to those late nights and endless emails and have very little regret BECAUSE it affords me cushion now when I need it like flexing my schedule for sick kids and SOS calls from aging parents and whims of cashing in points for 36 hours in a new country. 🙋♀️ Committing to visibility Camera on to build rapport. Get in person early and often. Reply all and cheer on your colleagues! Not in sales? Still celebrate that big deal announcement. Did finance give a great EOM update? Say thank you! 👐 Lend a hand Be a good person for the sake of being a good person, but also karma in the workplace is real. Offer to proof read a presentation. Do a bit of extra research. Send the recap when your colleague is OOO. When you help people, they are more likely to actually want to help you later too. ⭐ Be known for good work I know, "duh" to good work. But really, the more you demonstrate the really good stuff early on, the more you'll be associated with it longterm, even when you ship the less good stuff (because we're all human). Like dining at a new restaurant, if your first time is amazing - you'll forgive the flubs at a future visit. If it's lackluster from the start, the good times may feel like an exception. Be the 5-star person from the start. We're in a time where #hustle culture is declared dead - and while most of the time that's a good thing (bye, #toxic workplaces!) - don't underestimate the seasonality of your career and the unavoidable seasonality of life. Build your Reputational Cushion like you build your savings account and watch it pay off as life gets sticky later. Can we make #reputationalcushion trend?? Kidding. *p.s. don't tell my kids I unintentionally referred to them as baggage in a public post. They're the cutest baggage I've ever had, even when they declare mac and cheese to be "yuck." Who does that? #businessoperations #bizops

Have you ever been anxious about speaking up in meetings?  Maybe you’ve tried but your input is ignored or dismissed by more dominant voices. Or maybe you’re nervous to say something because you’re new, you’re junior, or you’re not accustomed to speaking up. And yet, there are many situations in which contributing to meetings is expected. It could impact your performance review, your grade, your reputation. Whatever the challenge or obstacle you face, it’s a skill that is critical for professional success. Here are a couple things you can do to meet the challenge: Be prepared. Being well-prepared can increase your confidence to contribute and enhance your credibility. Get out of your head and shift to a team mindset: Think of speaking up as a way to contribute to better team decision-making. Research on collective intelligence has shown that decision quality hinges on a group’s combined intelligence, not the smartest person.   Seize the moment when there’s a pause: Research on turn-taking indicates speakers often resume after a 0.5 second pause, assuming that’s long enough for others to respond. So jump in when there’s a break in the action.       To amp up your credibility: Mind your facial expressions: In some professional settings, a persistent smile can convey nervousness, naivete or insincerity. Share your winning smile at appropriate times. Permagrins are great at weddings; not so much in business meetings. Similarly, be mindful that your facial expression doesn’t give off vibes of disdain or contempt. (I once worked with a guy who always looked angry in meetings. You know, furrowed brows, downturned mouth. Whatever he said came off sounding angry. When I asked him if he was angry about something, he said no, with surprise. I told him his facial expression conveyed the opposite. He acknowledged that his wife had given him the same feedback.) Facial expressions say a lot, even when you’re not speaking.     Mind your body language and voice: Envision what confidence looks like and channel it. Sit up straight, make and hold eye contact. Speak with conviction and clarity. Avoid ending sentences as if they’re questions.   Implementing these practices may feel difficult or inauthentic at first. It will feel more natural with reps. Speaking up isn’t a matter of authenticity; it's about honing a critical professional skill and contributing to the group. If your goal is to influence and have impact, communication skills are key.  What practices have helped you get more comfortable speaking up? #CommunicationSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment

The #SayDo Ratio is a concept that I learned very early in my career. It is one of the most effective ways to measure how well your actions stack up against your words and commitments. Are you walking the talk? Because talk is cheap, but actions speak louder than words. I remember my Say:Do ratio being closer to 90% when I was younger. Along the way, we get complacent and tend to focus more on the important and urgent stuff. In today's fast-paced world, where we are constantly being bombarded by distractions, it can be very hard to follow through and keep track of this. I’d say mine is closer to 70% these days. And I’ve been trying to get it back to 90%. A strong Say:Do ratio is an essential element of building credibility, trust and respect, leading to stronger relationships. So, what can you do to improve yours? Here are a couple of tips: Step 1: Be realistic about what you can commit to. ️ Step 2: Follow through on your promises, big or small. Step 3: If you feel you’re missing those, go back to Step 1 A few other things you can do to improve your ratio: - Set achievable priorities - Hold yourself accountable - Set up reminders (to avoid procrastination) - Learn to say “No”. I’m still working on this. - Communicate - if you’re unable to follow through, let people know. Avoiding/Ghosting is the worst thing you can do. By aligning words with actions, we build trust, credibility, and momentum, all essential tools for personal and professional growth. What's your current "say-do" ratio? #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #Accountability #WalkTheTalk #saydoratio #credibility #professionaldevelopment #leadership #trust #career