More Than a Google Search: 4 Ways to Assess Your Reputation

• Author: Natasha Chetty
• Date: May 04, 2016

When I ask lawyers how they plan on building their reputations, the answers that I usually hear range from “do whatever I’m told” to “don’t screw up” to “execute my stellar marketing plan”. Of course, there’s more to it than that.

A reputation rests on:

1. The esteem in which you are held
2. The respect people have for you
3. Your perceived level of trustworthiness
4. The admiration that stakeholders have for your character

Having a “good” reputation means knowing what matters to those whose opinions affect your career. It doesn’t just result in referrals and job offers. It’s also about getting bills paid faster, negotiating power and providing a safety net if a crisis strikes. But how can you assess where you stand?

Do you know what your colleagues look for in someone with a “good” reputation? Making assumptions in this regard usually leads people to a cynical view. Instead, have a conversation with a senior partner, your mentor or your sponsor and ask how you are perceived compared to their expectations.

Do you believe constructive feedback? Let’s face it, constructive feedback can sting. It might not be delivered in the nicest way, either, but it’s useful. From my experience, the lawyers whose reputations suffer most are those who scoff when they are provided with a glimpse of how others interpret their behaviour. Whether the feedback comes from an angry client or a frustrated colleague, show enough character to ask how you can do better.

Do you have a superpower and...