What reputation have you built?

Reputation is important to dental practice success. Your practice’s reputation is both what your patients say about you (if positive, then more new patients visit you) and also what keeps or repels your patients from future visits.

But what about your personal reputation? Despite many believing that you should not be concerned what others think of you, I think your personal reputation is something you should purposefully design. Why do I think this?

REASON #1

Just as a business’ reputation will either attract or repel, the same is true for you personally. We are social beings and we gain a sense of security and well-being when included in social groups, such as family, friendships and sporting groups.

REASON #2

Like attracts like. The manner in which you live will attract particular types of people into your life. Just as misery loves company, so too does gratitude, contentment and joy.

Life is happier when you are surrounded by happy people.

Life is more successful when you are surrounded by successful people.

Life is more peaceful when you are surrounded by peaceful people.

REASON #3

If you develop an admirable personal reputation, you will be offered higher-quality professional opportunities and invited to join better teams.

REASON #4

Pride in yourself and your personal behaviour contributes positively to your enjoyment of life, builds self-confidence and encourages you to grow and develop.

Your reputation is what others think of you. This collection of thoughts in others is almost always based upon the past experiences of you that you have delivered.

If, sadly, you have established a series of past experiences for others that you now find cringeworthy, it is not too late. You can re-boot and start making changes in the ways you behave and start building a better personal reputation for yourself.

Here are a few hints to start your journey.

Be true to your word.

Do what you say you will do. Become known for being reliable and dependable.

Go out of your way to help others.

Be charitable with your time and energy and offer advice, encouragement and support for those around you.

Become an eternal optimist.

Always look on the bright side of life. There are positive aspects to every situation, if you are willing to look for those positives.

Become a great listener.

Being understood is one of our basic desires, perhaps even a basic need. Develop your listening skills and achieve deeper levels of engagement with others.

Be everyone’s cheerleader.

Let others know that you are in their corner, wanting the very best for them.

Avoid judging people harshly.

Judgments you make about others are likely to be unfair and inaccurate. Afford those around you with an assumption that they are doing the best they can.

Don’t believe gossip.

It can be difficult to avoid people trying to gossip with you, but you can control how that gossip affects your perception of the ‘victim’. Of course, one step deeper is to actively stand up for the person being ‘attacked’ by the gossip.

Become an effective communicator.

Be mindful of how you speak and what your body language is saying. Seek to become someone who is easily understood and with whom it is enjoyable to communicate.

Leave people better off for having known you.

This is my personal favourite and something I have lived by for many years. Be a positive force in the lives of those around you.