Your business reputation is built through every conversation, interaction and experience people have with you. Long after they have forgotten your job title, website or offer, they may still remember how they felt when they were around you.
I was reminded of this recently when I attended an event run by one of my long-term clients.
There were about 110 people in the room. The event was fabulous. She was fabulous.
Then one woman walked in, spotted me and came straight over.
“Emma McQueen.”
Her name was Eva, and I hadn’t seen her since 2012.
FOURTEEN YEARS.
Back then, I had taken part in some training Eva ran. We had crossed paths, spent some time together and then life carried on, as it does.
Here we were, all these years later, chatting as though we had seen each other the previous week.
Eva had come to the event on her own, so I introduced her to some of the Thriving Women. We talked about where life had taken us and all the things that can happen in 14 years.
It was delightful.
The next day, Eva sent me a message on LinkedIn. She said that, all these years later, I was still the bright spark in the room.
Nawww.
Her message also got me thinking about how we build a reputation and what people remember about us.
Your reputation is an experience
We talk a lot in business about personal brands, visibility, positioning and staying top of mind.
These things all contribute to how people perceive you. Your reputation also includes the experience people have when they interact with you.
Think about the way you show up in a room.
- Were you interested in other people?
- Did you notice them?
- Did you listen to what they had to say?
- Were you generous with your ideas or introductions?
- Did you make them laugh or help them feel welcome?
- What energy did you bring into the room?
When Eva arrived at the event on her own, I introduced her to people because that’s what I do. Perhaps that was part of what she remembered from 14 years earlier too.
Small moments can stay with people for a surprisingly long time.
Consistency builds trust
There is something powerful about being consistent in who you are.
Businesses change. Offers change. Job titles change. Websites change. Gosh, hairstyles DEFINITELY change! 👩🎤
Through all those changes, a thread of you remains.
Building a strong business reputation starts with becoming clear about who you are and how you want people to experience you. You then reinforce that experience each time you show up.
Consistency helps people know what they can expect from you. Over time, that creates trust.
This does not require you to perform or manufacture a business persona. It comes from knowing your values and expressing them through your everyday actions.
If generosity matters to you, make introductions.
If curiosity matters to you, ask thoughtful questions and listen to the answers.
If warmth matters to you, notice the person standing on their own and invite them into the conversation.
These actions become part of how people describe you when you are out of the room.
Visibility gives people more opportunities to remember you
People need opportunities to experience who you are.
Posting online, sending emails and sharing useful ideas can support your visibility. Being physically present in rooms gives people a different kind of experience.
They see how you treat people. They watch how you respond to conversations. They notice whether you make space for others and contribute to the energy in the room.
This is one reason I value business events and genuine networking. Relationships grow through repeated interactions, thoughtful follow-up and the conversations that happen between the formal parts of an event.
You may meet someone today who becomes a client, collaborator or referral partner in the future. You may also reconnect with someone 14 years later and discover that they still remember you.
Decide what you want to be remembered for
A strong business reputation grows through intention and repetition.
Start by asking yourself:
- How do I want people to feel after spending time with me?
- What qualities do I want people to associate with my name?
- Does the way I currently show up create that experience?
- What is one action I can take to reinforce that reputation?
Your answers can guide the way you communicate, lead, network and build relationships.
So, here’s my question for you:
What will people remember about being in a room with you 14 years from now?