Your Reputation

Today's question is: Where do reputations come from? And what can we do to protect our own?

Here are three possibilities.

1) People earn them.

Recall the old joke: "99% of [ fill in your favorite pet peeve ] give the rest a bad name."

This has more truth in it than humor. People become known for their actions and the results that they cause. Of course, this applies to both infamous and commendable reputations.

What to Do: Avoid being a negative stereotype. If you're part of a group that has a bad reputation, be the one person who behaves differently -- that is, act in a more ethical, compassionate, and generous manner. After all, the reputation that matters is your own.

2) People sell them.

There is an entire library of books on "fear based selling." Here, the salesperson finds a problem, tears it open, and then pours pain on it until the buyer panics into buying something. This works because fear sells. And people use fear to sell everything from memberships to copy machines. Fear can also influence your decisions when hiring, promoting, and rewarding employees. Conversely, positive stereotypes can also fool people into making bad decisions (e.g., by ignoring superior options).

What to Do: Avoid making important decisions when feeling weak or afraid. Always move toward an improvement instead of away from a threat. Postpone buying decisions until you have all of the facts. Know what you want before beginning to shop.

3) People use them.

Stereotypes are especially useful, for example, in entertainment. For example, you must have seen at least one movie based on the brilliant child and the idiot parent. Or, have you noticed that actors are chosen based on the reputation of the characters they portray. This, in turn, advances a reputation for that type of character.  For example, all villains look and act like villains.

What to Do: Think beyond stereotypes. Notice how they are being used to entertain, sell, or control decisions. If you're a parent, use popular shows to begin a conversation with your children about the stereotypes being shown. After all, if you laugh at the idiot parent in a sitcom, your children will conclude that you agree with the theme. Then, they transfer that stereotype to you.

Key Point: Mind manipulation has become a sophisticated tool. Watch for it and think for yourself.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator