The Confidence Effect

PART TWO

Reputation

Begin somewhere. You cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do.

—Liz Smith, journalist

Think of your reputation as the echo that lingers in the room long after you leave. In fact, it’s also what precedes you into the room, a kind of subconscious energy or presence you carry around with you wherever you go. For me, “reputation” and “brand” are nearly interchangeable. Each is a reflection of your executive leadership presence.

Many people think they know what their reputations are. Some are absolutely right, while others are way off base. What people in the organization actually think about us is important because it affects how they make decisions about us. It can even affect how much exposure we’re getting in the ...