Check your off-line reputation!
Have you checked your reputation recently? You better do, it's amazing how fast your (on-line) reputation can change. Even if you're not online, others can damage your reputation. Working in a organization means your reputation counts! Check out yours!
Checking your reputation can and should be done in various ways. Rule number one is obvious: your reputation is what people say about you when you are not in the room.
But how to find out?
More importantly: how to influence?
Checking your reputation can and should be done in various ways. Rule number one is obvious: your reputation is what people say about you when you are not in the room.
But how to find out?
More importantly: how to influence?

Career planning is one part of the chain, but a very important one, to grow your career.
In the time of on-line reputation, expert status and social marketing, off-line reputation is often forgotten.
Influence what people say about you when you are not around!
Check-out the off-line reputation check list - download here.
In the time of on-line reputation, expert status and social marketing, off-line reputation is often forgotten.
Influence what people say about you when you are not around!
Check-out the off-line reputation check list - download here.
Learning from the learning specialist about how to influence perception through actions
Do you sometimes have second thoughts about some face expression, exchanged between people with you in the room, when you are presenting? Do you wonder what people say about you when you left the room? Do you wonder how people see you, and what your "real" reputation is?
Reputation is the opinion of others on you. We all know this is perception, but we also know perception is what we consider to be true. If you ever wondered how you can influence perception, maybe its a good idea to explore the learning mechanisms of people. My favorite learning model is that of Kolb, which is the most universal and simple model I have ever seen. It explains the "cycle of learning" (clockwise) we all apply every moment we live consciously.
Reputation is the opinion of others on you. We all know this is perception, but we also know perception is what we consider to be true. If you ever wondered how you can influence perception, maybe its a good idea to explore the learning mechanisms of people. My favorite learning model is that of Kolb, which is the most universal and simple model I have ever seen. It explains the "cycle of learning" (clockwise) we all apply every moment we live consciously.

The Kolb model can be used in two ways:
First of all, Kolb also identified 4 learning styles which I did not include in the picture, but is handy to understand. They have complicated names, but what you have to remember is that a learning style is a personal preference for the starting point, and not something you can influence. Each learning style fits on a corner of the picture:
The key point is that learning is always the whole cycle (clockwise) but the starting point differs.
How can you use this?
As learning follows the cycle, and your environment will have all learning style, you will need to focus on all 4 areas:
In principle you should be your self and that should work. However, if you doubt the way people see you and think about you, reflect on the Kolb cycle and see what you can influence. Make changes to the way you communicate, present or structure information. Consider what will be the impact of what you see on beforehand. Obviously, presenting, public speaking and many more events can be prepared this way, so you start getting more control on the perception you create.
Check-out the reputation checklist, subscribe to our newsletter below and we will send you a free copy.
- Learn yourself
- Make others learn from you
First of all, Kolb also identified 4 learning styles which I did not include in the picture, but is handy to understand. They have complicated names, but what you have to remember is that a learning style is a personal preference for the starting point, and not something you can influence. Each learning style fits on a corner of the picture:
- Assimilating: people who start learning from watching/observing and reflecting on it;
- Converging: those who start learning from watching and observing others and immediately start doing afterwards;
- Accommodating: these people start to learn from doing and getting a feeling from doing it;
- Diverging: Learning starts here with a feeling and the reflection on it.
The key point is that learning is always the whole cycle (clockwise) but the starting point differs.
How can you use this?
As learning follows the cycle, and your environment will have all learning style, you will need to focus on all 4 areas:
- DOING: When physically doing things, consider the impact on others in how you do it. You set the example, its how you tackle problems, how you deal with people, its the behavior people see when you do things. Maybe you want to reflect on your way of translating observed behavior to forming an opinion of someone?
- EXPERIENCE: Use and create emotion, so people get the right feeling about things you say and do. By using your own emotions in a controlled way, you generate emotions people. When you prepare, think of how you want people to feel after you finished. Also think of how you would feel if you were in the audience. The way you are enthusiastic, upset about a problem, etc. will create new emotions.
- REFLECT: Ask questions that help and make people reflect on you in certain ways. The way you ask questions and the sort of questions influence how people reflect on you and your topic. Always include some questions that help reflecting on you by including some of your positive contribution in a question.
- CONCEPTUALIZE: Ensure ingredients are included that make up the full picture that represents you. This is made up of the previous 3 points, but not all can be done at the same time. Think therefore of balancing the ingredients over time and the frequency you show ingredients over time.
In principle you should be your self and that should work. However, if you doubt the way people see you and think about you, reflect on the Kolb cycle and see what you can influence. Make changes to the way you communicate, present or structure information. Consider what will be the impact of what you see on beforehand. Obviously, presenting, public speaking and many more events can be prepared this way, so you start getting more control on the perception you create.
Check-out the reputation checklist, subscribe to our newsletter below and we will send you a free copy.
Stay up-to-date
You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter. We respect your privacy at all times. Click here to sign-up (free of course). |
|