Reputation: How to build a good reputation

What is Reputation?

The term reputation comes from a Latin word 'reputationem' which means 'consideration' in English.

Take a moment to ponder on the following questions:

• How do people consider me?
• How do others view me?
• How do people label me?
• How do others address me?
• How do my family, friends and strangers relate with me?
• What opinion do others have about me?

If you can give a genuine answer to the above questions; then, that’s possibly your reputation.

Reputation can simply be defined as a complete or total estimation of a person’s character and quality especially by those who know such person.

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Reputation can be put into different types depending on how you look at it; but in this article, we will look into the good and bad forms reputation.

Note: Everyone has got a reputation but not everyone has good reputation.

An important point to understand is this: 'Everything you do or don’t do will account for your reputation regardless your awareness or non-awareness towards it'. However, the good news is the fact that there's a chance for everyone to improve on their reputation.

How to build a Good Reputation

Below are explanations on the various ways through which one can build a good reputation:

• Emulate those you hold in high Esteem

Take a moment to think about the people you respect and hold in high esteem. Try to find out the values they possess that made you respect them.

Please read more on values here.

If you put into practice the amiable values of those you hold in high esteem, your reputation will increase and others will look up to you in return.

• Cut out of negative talk

Negative talk like gossips, use of abusive languages, maligning others and so on will only bring bad reputation on a person.

It is better to remain silent and keep your opinion to yourself rather than expressing an unsure opinion about others (family, friends and even strangers).

Some persons may go an extra mile by putting up these negative or unsure gossips on the internet. This act can be potentially very dangerous to the reputation and career of such persons involved.

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Note: People who constantly speak bad, negative and evil about others rarely have a positive reputation.

• Be involved in social, community and volunteer services

Once in a while, we have to politely introduce ourselves to people who don’t know us. Social, community and volunteer services are one of the various ways to achieve this.

• Community service can be defined as a job performed by an individual or group of people for the benefit of the community or its institutions without any pay.

• Volunteer service is any activity that is done out of one’s own will and without any form of payment or reward; for the benefit of others; not including his/her family members or relatives.

Please read on community service versus volunteer service here.

A truth about life is the fact that little may be known of our good reputation if we are not known. Social, community and volunteer services provide an opportunity for people to see our selfless and humanitarian actions. Also, we get to meet a variety of people through this selfless act.

• Take on responsibilities

One way to build up a good reputation is to start taking up responsibilities and delivering on them.

When one takes up too big a responsibility and fails to deliver on them, it usually results into having a bad reputation. To this end, we should be careful and analytical when taking up responsibilities.

Please read on your responsibilities, duties and obligations as a citizen here.

Understand that the act of helping people whenever we can goes a long way in building our reputation.

• Avoid negative behaviors

No upright person will like to associate himself or herself with a thief, a murderer or a liar (which are all considered as negative behaviors).

Negative behaviors include but aren't limited to the followings:

1. Taking up a bad job like stealing, cyber crimes and prostitution.
2. Gossiping and being a talkative.
3. Drug abuse.
4. Fighting and quarrelling.
5. Drunkenness and embarrassment of oneself.
6. Making false statements.

One with the above negative behaviors will have a bad reputation. Apart from this, no good and reasonable person will want to associate with one who portrays these aforementioned negative behaviors.

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• Practice honesty and integrity

No one trusts a dishonest person or one that lacks integrity. Integrity goes a long way with regards to reputation. Many people (dead and alive) are respected and revered today because they lived and died honorably through their acts of integrity and honesty.

You can read on the true meaning of honesty here.

Joseph in the bible became a leader and a man of great reputation in a foreign land. He achieved this feat because of the honesty and integrity he showed in times of temptation and injustice.

Please read more on the leadership qualities of Joseph here.

• Dress properly for the occasion

There is this saying that 'the way you dress is the way you would be addressed'. Also, our first impression when relating with other people can prove vital.

One should be properly dressed for the appropriate occasion because this is the first step towards presenting your personality. Your personality on the other hand may determine your level of reputation.

Please read more on self-esteem and ways to overcome low self-esteem.

As an instance, a secondary school student is expected to dressed neatly. This will include wearing a clean, well ironed and properly tucked uniforms; together with the appropriate stockings and shoes.

Also, if students are to further enhance their reputation before their teachers and fellow students, they should be hard-working, well-mannered and neat.

• Make yourself likeable in a positive sense

Do you know it is possible for one not to be liked because of the way he or she carries himself or herself?

We need to portray a good image of ourselves if we intend to put out a good reputation out there. To achieve this, the following actions are recommended:

1. Put up a smile when exchanging pleasantries with others.
2. Congratulate someone when something good happens to them.
3. Console someone when something bad happens to them.
4. Compliment people when they deserve it.
5. Be respectful to others.

Please read more on social studies and its objectives here.