No matter how professional, intelligent, and educated, as well as just a good person you are, you cannot report this directly. Your reputation should speak for you. But here’s the catch: sometimes, with your actions, which you consider quite harmless, you spoil the opinion of people around you about yourself.
There are ways to help you create a good reputation for yourself. Most importantly, you can effortlessly make them a part of your life. You do not have to get specific knowledge or sacrifice your free time to do this. We have collected a few of these ways below.
1. Not shifting responsibility
It’s nice to do business with someone who knows how to take responsibility, at least for himself and his actions. If you made a mistake, admit your guilt and try to fix it. It makes no sense to shift responsibility to someone else, to look for those to blame for the fact that something did not work out for you or to say that external circumstances prevented you from implementing your plans. This will only increase the distrust of the people around you. You will create a reputation for yourself as an unreliable person who does not know how to solve problems and objectively assess the situation.
2. Giving advice only when asked for it
Of course, when someone has problems in life, the first thing you want to do is give the person advice. It would help if you avoided this by all means, and it does not matter whether you have ever been in a similar situation or have some knowledge necessary, in your opinion, to eliminate the problem.
Until your interlocutor asks you about your opinion, do not start giving advice right and left. This is very annoying and presents you in the eyes of others as someone struggling to prove his importance and show how smart he is. Mind – that’s not how it expresses itself at all. If you want to show off your intelligence, talk less, do more and stay restrained, especially when it does not concern you.
3. Not participating in disputes
Disputes only waste a lot of time and effort without ultimately leading to any logical conclusion. There is no truth in the argument – such a dialogue only helps the interlocutors to show off their elaborate abilities and assert themselves at someone else’s expense. Therefore, if possible, avoid such a waste of time. The habit of not participating in disputes can make a reputation for self-confidence and knowledge of a person who does not necessarily have to prove something to anyone. Stay with your opinion without trying to convince your interlocutor.
No matter what arguments you pick up, it will not help to change his point of view, especially if he is determined to win the argument.
4. Not talking about others without their presence
To avoid participating in the spread of gossip and other unverified information, the ability to stay away from talking about other people, evaluating their actions, and so on. Remain a person who is completely uninterested in what is happening in someone else’s life. Focus primarily on yourself – on your successes, defeats, emotions, and goals. If you want to discuss what someone else says or does, talk about it with the person himself. But don’t do it behind his back – your trust level will certainly fall.
5. Keeping your promises
Do not make promises to others that you are not ready to fulfill. If you realize that you don’t really want to do what you are asked to do, or you are not sure that you will have time or enough necessary knowledge and skills, it is better to refuse. So you will allow a person to find someone who will definitely not let him down. Give the word only when you are 100% sure you will do what you are asked to do. Let others not doubt the firmness of your intentions and understand that you can be trusted.
6. Saying less and doing more
You can be a person who talks about yourself and the plans for a very long time and then does nothing or abandons what you started halfway. It kills your reputation: people see that the only thing you know ideally is your language. But you should aim to give the impression of an active person who always fulfills what he has planned and what he has decided to share with others. Talk less about what you’re planning and do more. Prove your intelligence, professionalism, skills, and determination not with words but with deeds.
7. Appreciating yourself
People who cannot recognize their merits, accept compliments and praise, and agree that they have achieved certain successes, usually cause others at least irritation. So learn to appreciate yourself – analyze your actions, and try to be objective in their assessments. Never try to downplay what you have achieved, and do not refuse pleasant words from someone in your address. Having learned to see your strengths and celebrate your achievements, you will begin to create the impression of a confident person who knows his own worth.
8. Making decisions on your own
You cannot be called a self-sufficient person if you need someone’s advice or approval to decide. Learn to be independent – you already have everything you need to make decisions. Knowledge, skills, experience, and understanding of how it will be better for you – this is what you should base your choice on.
9. Putting yourself and your needs first
Someone, of course, will say that this is a manifestation of selfishness. But mostly, this opinion is held by people with low self-esteem or those who are afraid to declare themselves and their interests. They want everyone around them to do the same as they do – to be silent if something does not suit them, look for compromises, put up with inconveniences, and so on. Be the person who knows exactly what he needs and does not agree to anything less. Put yourself and your needs first — this will make it clear to others that you treat yourself with respect.
10. Be honest in any situation
This does not mean that you should always speak directly about what you think, not focusing on the possible reaction of others and not imagining what consequences this may lead to. Stay honest, answer questions, make suggestions, and compliment. If you have something to say to a person, and you know that these are not particularly pleasant words, give the information when you are alone with him. If you think your words can hurt a person, choose your expressions carefully, and find the right time to tell him what you want.
Honesty is rarely pleasant, but it is valued almost above all in any communication – romantic, friendly, working, and so on. Stay honest with yourself and others; you will see how even those whose favor is extremely difficult to achieve will begin to trust you.
