A reputation is how you are perceived by others. This facet is as important to your work, much as it is for your personal life. With a great reputation, an employee possesses a powerful asset for their work place and to their career growth and success. Jesse Mugisha, an IT and business person working with ArchGrid Ltd, a consultancy firm in Kigali, believes that being reputable can distinguish one from others professionally or influence customers and colleagues. He says that when building a good reputation, one should understand that it takes time and effort which needs patience for one to succeed at this. When it comes to professional work, Mugisha notes that many studies have established that a good professional reputation can have an impact on job offers, promotions, and team morale. From a professional point of view, reputation simply means being held in esteem or being regarded and respected by the people in position to know and have an opinion about you. Diana Nawatti, a counsellor and head teacher says building your reputation doesn’t require doing extraordinary things or going beyond expectations to achieve this. Instead, she notes that it all starts with simple actions such as welcoming and introducing yourself to new colleagues. This, she says can lead to meaningful relationships at your workplace. Another simple way to build your reputation, the counsellor says is by trying to engage with co-workers and customers in positive and creative ways. “One can achieve this by being generous with everything within their work. These actions make those around you know they are valued and respected, which can lead to better productivity and positivity all through,” she says. Francis Mwangi, a lecturer at Mount Kenya University teaching human resource management, says one can achieve building their reputation by being transparent in everything they undertake. He says this means that one is truthful and honest, which at the end of the day builds trust and can improve success in career or business. The lecturer goes on to note that disclosing all the information depending on what is supposed to be communicated is vital as this helps build trust among your colleagues despite any potential inconvenience. Meanwhile, Nawatti says that there is also need for building strong character. Here, she explains that this can be achieved by one showing concern and doing the right thing all the time, which is a sign of integrity. In addition to this, she points out that giving out a helping hand is also crucial. “This can mean helping g others meet their goals, as it proves you as a good team player who can work in a team environment and also shows goodwill beyond your interests,” she says. According to experts, going the extra mile to help your colleagues is another way to add worthwhile weight to your reputation. Whether that’s by offering an extra hand when you know they’re inundated with paperwork or simply making them look great in a meeting, helping out your colleagues can be extremely rewarding for your morals and your career. Mugisha on the other hand believes that building your reputation at work, could as well mean going above and beyond what’s expected. This, he notes that it can be done by going an extra mile and taking on additional duties including doing work that you were not asked for, or simply beating the deadlines. Mwangi insists that consistency is vital when building a reputation because it shows that people can count on you, and that as an employee, you can be trusted to deliver effectively with minimal supervision.
