Your Reputation – what is it?
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The reputation of a business is how people perceive it and judge whether they will trust and buy from it.
This perception has a life of its own, moving independently, spread by word of mouth and social media. It takes time and effort for a company to build a strong reputation, however a single misplaced word or action can destroy it.
Reputation is one of a business’ most valuable assets, and yet often the least understood asset.
Why does it matter?
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Your organisation may be a commercial venture, a public sector body or a charity.
Whatever the structure, it will have a reputation, whether you like it or not!
A strong reputation will benefit the organisation in a myriad of ways; it will create opportunities, attract more business, help the organisation perform more effectively and make a greater impact on customers and stakeholders.
Doesn’t an organisation’s reputation ‘just happen’?
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For many organisations, reputation is something that ‘just happens’. Some are naturally great at building a strong reputation.
Others tend to exist either having little understanding how they are perceived, or doing little to manage their reputation effectively.
That means that rather than having no reputation, the organisation has one with a life of its own, without any conscious influence or management.
Can I manage an organisation’s reputation?
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Yes, you can. A strong reputation has two elements – the trophy cabinet of achievements and how the organisation represents itself to other people.
Let’s assume that the trophy cabinet of achievements is continuing to grow.
The challenge is to be clear and consistent in how the organisation represents itself; so people can see exactly what the organisation stands for and what they should expect; allowing trust to build.
What should I do next?
Take Reputation Buzz’s five question health check to find out how well you manage your organisation’s reputation at the moment. It’s free and only takes a couple of minutes.