MindTools Club’s Recovering Your Reputation Lose Your Label and Regain Your Standing has the following advice.
- None of us is perfect. Making mistakes or getting things wrong is just part of life and part of a learning process
- Sometimes though depending on how often or how seriously you make mistakes you might find that your reputation gets tarnished or you get labeled as being “incompetent”, “untrustworthy”, “difficult”, “foolish” or worse
- Whether you have made an error of judgment, behaved badly, failed to keep a promise, or just been the victim of the rumor mills, the good news is it is often possible or redeem yourself
- Step 2 Start Rebuilding
- You want to limit the damage as soon as possible even if you have a long road ahead there is no time to lose
- Begin by developing an action plan where you map out your desired future self and set goals to achieve it with a reasonable timeline
- You have to live the changes you want to make so the new you is visible as you can’t just pay it lip service
- You also need to believe in yourself before anyone else will
- Step 3 Make It Last
- It is critical that you don't lapse back into your old ways
- You need to commit to making deep and lasting changes
- Be aware that some people will struggle to accept that you are genuinely different so just keep at it
- Depending on the circumstances it may take longer than you would like for everyone to acknowledge your new self
- Your reputation is built partly on your own behavior and traits and partly on how other people choose to see you so you can influence it but not control it and remember rumors spread quickly
- Keep in mind that professionally even at meetings everyone is observing everyone else and health system pharmacy is a small world
- If women want to be taken seriously then “hanging on guys” in bars at meetings isn’t a good approach
- Doesn't mean one can’t have fun but do it in groups as being frequently seen with the same guy, rightly or wrongly, will lead to a reputation that won’t help a women’s career
- Ask yourself the these questions
- What did or didn't I do
- Were you in the wrong or have you been unfairly blamed and be honest with yourself
- Why did people react the way they did
- You can’t form a recovery plan without establishing the cause because you need to identify the areas you need to focus on
- For example if you have been labeled as angry, arrogant or lazy, you need to identify the specific behaviors that other people are using to label you
- Discuss the situation frankly with your manager and ask for input even if it will be painful as you want to indicate you want to put things right
- If needed acknowledge your mistakes, apologize and explain honestly what happened
- Don't try to cover up or stretch the truth
- Keep in mind your reputation can be damaged almost overnight and it can take a long time to rebuild
- Step 1 Uncover the truth
- “Mud sticks” as the saying goes so the first step is to lose the mud
- Resist the temptation to display knee-jerk defensive reactions or blame someone else
Comments are always welcome