Fact, Fiction and Reputation!!!

So what do you think happens when you are assigned for several years to groups that require you to be strong, hard charging, able to be fluid with the process, and take charge? Answer you get a reputation to match, and while this made you very successful in those groups, it will make it very hard in others and even make it hard to find other jobs within your company. While it was needed for those groups to be successful, the fiction is, that is the way you really are.

Your reputation within your company, like in social media, like within your chosen profession, will be based on 1 part fact and 1 part fiction. The problem is most people seem more interested in the fiction, and less in the fact. Especially when the fiction is negative. You might be able to show you are a great developer or designer, with facts. But the fiction is you are pushy, unable to deal with groups that are more senior. The fiction might also include you can write great simple code , but not great with the tough, high level code. It might also include an unwillingness to follow what some feel is or should be the process. All these things might be the fiction, and there may be facts to show the fiction is not true, but very few will take the time to find out the truth. It is easier to go off what they hear, right or wrong.

So what to do? Well for one ensure you have people within the company, preferably high level, that know the truth and will support you and let others know the truth. Ensure your reviews support the truth, and do the best you can to dissipate any fictions you hear that are not based on fact. Make sure your various online profiles, have factually based information, ensure you have recommendation and allot of connections. These things will make someone think twice about any negative fictions. It is hard to believe negative fictions, when a person has allot of positive recommendations, from people of all levels.

The thing to remember, the more successful you are the more of a target you will be of the negative fictions. So be ready, be strong, and you can ride out the storm.