2. Communicating Our Multiple Selves: How to Effectively Manage Your Reputation

Summary

In the 'Think Fast Talk Smart' podcast, Matt Abrahams and Alison Kluger discuss the nuances of reputation and its management. Kluger, a former TV and radio producer and expert in digital media, emphasizes that a good reputation is like currency, beneficial before and after one's presence. She suggests that awareness, consistency, and being a conscientious content creator are key to shaping one's reputation. Trust, warmth, and competence are highlighted as essential for effective communication. The conversation also touches on the importance of authenticity and strategic behavior in both personal and professional settings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reputation is defined as the 'echo' that precedes and remains after you in a room, signifying the impressions you make on others.
• 💼 A strong reputation is like currency, working in your favor before you even enter a room and influencing how people perceive you.
• 🔍 Awareness is crucial in managing your reputation; it's about being conscious of first impressions, presence, and consistency in how you present yourself.
• 🛠️ You can change your reputation; it's fluid and requires reevaluation and strategic actions if you find a mismatch between your intentions and perceptions.
• 🌐 Consistency in behavior and communication helps in curating your values and maintaining a positive reputation, especially in the digital age.
• 🤝 Trust is a significant component of reputation, and it can be built or repaired through expertise, empathy, commitment, and transparency.
• 🏥 The Tylenol crisis of the 1980s is an example of a company effectively using the Trust Radar to manage a reputation crisis by being transparent and committed.
• 🌡️ Balancing warmth and competence is vital for executive presence; being solely data-driven can come off as arrogant, while too much warmth without substance can seem insubstantial.
• 📈 Authenticity in communication is key, as it helps in building trust and making a connection with the audience, as exemplified by admired communicators like Tyra Banks and Michelle Obama.
• 📝 The successful communication recipe includes knowing your audience (AIM), understanding your intent, and crafting a clear and concise message.
• 🎯 The importance of dealing with situations effectively, as it's not what happens but how you respond that defines your character and reputation.

Q & A

What is the definition of reputation according to Alison Kluger?

Alison Kluger defines reputation as the echo that precedes you into a room and the echo that remains after you leave.

Why is it important to manage our reputation?

Managing our reputation is important because a good reputation acts like currency, working for us even before we enter a room, and influencing how people perceive us.

How can we ensure that our reputation matches our intentions?

To ensure our reputation matches our intentions, we need to be conscious of how we enter a room, make first impressions, and how present we are during discussions, showing up consistently as who we are.

What is the significance of being consistent in building a reputation?

Consistency is significant in building a reputation because it allows people to understand what you stand for and curate your values, which helps in avoiding fixed biases or negative perceptions.

What are some actions we can take to communicate the reputation we want others to see us having?

Actions to communicate the desired reputation include being mindful of first impressions, being present during interactions, showing up consistently, and curating your values to let people know what you stand for.

How does the concept of 'trust radar' relate to reputation management?

The 'trust radar' concept, from the book 'Reputation Rules' by Dearneyer, suggests that trust can be built or repaired through four elements: expertise, empathy, commitment, and transparency, all of which are crucial for reputation management.

Can you provide an example of a company that effectively managed a reputation crisis?

Johnson & Johnson's response to the Tylenol crisis in the 1980s is an example of effective reputation management. They demonstrated transparency, commitment, expertise, and developed new tamper-free packaging to regain trust.

What is the balance between warmth and competence in building a reputation?

The balance between warmth and competence is essential in building a reputation because being only data-driven can come off as arrogant, while being only warm can seem insubstantial. A mix of both makes one likable and trustworthy.

How does social media impact the management of our reputations in today's digital age?

Social media impacts reputation management by creating multiple instances of ourselves that others can view and judge. It requires us to be more mindful and strategic about the content we post and how it aligns with the reputation we want to build.

What advice does Alison Kluger give for dealing with situations that could impact our reputation?

Alison Kluger advises that it's not what happens that defines you, but how you choose to deal with it. She emphasizes turning potentially negative situations into moments of triumph or valuable learning experiences.

What are the three key ingredients Alison Kluger believes go into a successful communication recipe?

Alison Kluger believes the three key ingredients for successful communication are audience, intent, and message. Understanding your audience, being clear on your intent, and delivering a clear and concise message are crucial for effective communication.