If you had to put a price on your professional reputation what would it be? Do you realize its life long value to you is priceless? It is a sad thing, but many people do not take the time to really evaluate what they are doing in the present to how it might affect their future. We must always keep our finger on the pulse of our reputation, monitoring it so that we continue to keep to the highest of standards. If we lose our good reputation it will take years to repair, if at all.
Taking time for truthful reflection on key areas such as dependability, responsibility, and ethics should be a daily task. Make a personal report card on these key traits along with honesty, truthfulness, trustworthiness and conduct and have people who you value their opinion grade you on how you are doing.
With the rise that social media plays in our day-to-day life and the fact that we many times allow our professional acquaintances to have a peek inside our personal life, do you ask yourself “what are they seeing?”
Not too long ago, a national association that I sit on their board had to take discipline action against a fellow board member because of very poor judgment that was used on a social media site that she had invited board members and general membership members to be a part of her group. The behavior and pictures to go with it went against the code of ethics that is established for board members and action was taken.
I am sure at the time she did her postings, she really did not even think about who she was allowing to take a peek at her personal life, sometimes we forget who we have as “friends”, because isn’t it the one with the most friends wins?
If you want to connect socially with your professional connections maybe LinkedIn might be the better way to go than your personal Facebook account. Be smart when it comes to making Friends and realize that once you post things online they make a true fingerprint about who your are, whether you like it or not.
You call the shots as it is your information that you are sharing with those your connect with, and many times you will never know what others thought about what you posted. Remember you are never too young or too old to stay on top of the game as there is nothing more important than your professional reputation. Protect it, as its value is priceless!
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