Partners' Network

Developing a “Professional” Reputation


One of my friends retired about a year ago. He also resigned from the many charitable boards he was on.

I spoke to him recently and asked how he liked retirement and he said he was having a ball and was thrilled he no longer had to attend all the charity board meetings – they bored him sick.That and some other comments he made, indicated to me that he viewed his charitable service as a job enhancement obligation and that he had no real commitment to the charities he was supposed to be helping. What wasted opportunities!

Developing a professional reputation entails many things, one of which is networking in the community where you live and work, serving on charitable boards and actually accomplishing good deeds, and being involved in professional organizations. These all take time and often it is after hours and cuts into home life. Many do not care to do this and they remain happily employed but without the ambition to move to the next level. There is nothing wrong with that if that is what they want, but if you want to move up the ladder professionally, it requires special effort.

If you will be making the extra effort, it is important that you enjoy what you will be doing and become personally satisfied. Doing so requires that you like your job, company, and industry or profession and have a desire to become as good as you can at it. It also means building a professional network so you are known by your counterparts and others in your business arena. It is also a way to keep current, contribute to your peers and grow. Being involved in your community and charitable participation broadens your horizons, allows you to improve your environment, and make friendships of people you share common goals with. Friendships also develop through your professional and industry groups.

Through your friendships, your spouse and perhaps children can also be drawn into the circle. Children’s teams, school and church committees, and civic organizations are wonderful and pressure free ways to grow your reputation while having fun. For business purposes attending entertainment and sports events with colleagues, customers or vendors that are paid for by the business also adds some icing on the cake.

There are other ways that are less personal such as writing articles, editing newsletters, posting a blog or representing your group on social media. Event committees always need behind the scenes people to stuff envelopes and get things organized with caterers and this also can help you develop a reputation as a serious person that could be counted on. Another way is to present speeches or organize a program where you arrange for the speaker.

If you want to establish a professional reputation, it will take effort, time and an interest in what you are doing. Going through the motions won’t accomplish it; your lack of enthusiasm will be noted, and perhaps the only benefit will be in your own mind, and people can sense who the serious ones are.


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