Reputation as a political asset: the personal brand that others define for you
The shadow that walks before you
Before you enter a room, your reputation is already there. It shapes how people prepare for the meeting, how people listen to you, how much weight your words carry, and how much trust and respect you are afforded
Reputation is the most powerful political asset you have as a leader. Unlike authority, it can’t be given by your title. Unlike influence, it can’t be built overnight. It’s the sum of all your actions, your consistency, and the stories others tell each other about you
Handled well, reputation accelerates your impact. Handled poorly, it becomes a silent saboteur
Why reputation matters
In organisational politics, your reputation is your leverage. It’s the credibility that makes others willing to take risks with you - or not. It:
precedes you. People form opinions before you speak. It’s what people say about you behind your back
amplifies or undermines your influence. A trusted reputation makes your attempts at influencing someone easier. A shaky reputation makes it harder
compounds over time. Every action adds or subtracts from your reputation
portable. Your reputation follows you across roles, companies, and industries
What’s your reputation made up of?
Your reputation isn’t just one thing. It’s a combination of your:
competence. Do you deliver results consistently?
character. Do you act with integrity and fairness?
consistency. Are you reliable, predictable, and steady under pressure?
connection. Do people feel you understand and respect them?
contribution. Do you add value beyond your own remit?
When these elements positively align, your reputation becomes a force multiplier
Example 1: The trusted operator
A General Manager in Transformation was known for delivering on promises, even under immense pressure. When he proposed a risky new initiative, stakeholders backed him. Not because the numbers were flawless, far from it, but because his reputation for reliability made them confident he’d find a way for it to succeed
Lesson: a reputation for competence buys you permission to take risks
Example 2: The reputation gap
A Product Lead was brilliant but inconsistent. Sometimes she delivered exceptional results and other times she missed deadlines by a mile. Her reputation became that of the “unreliable genius.” Even when she had strong ideas, her stakeholders hesitated, and often approvals came with conditions and stricter governance
Lesson: inconsistency erodes reputation faster than failure
Example 3: The leader who breeds loyalty
A Director in Business Transformation consistently gave credit to her team and defended them in executive forums. Over time, her reputation as a fair and principled leader grew. When she later needed support for a controversial decision, her colleagues rallied behind her
Lesson: a reputation for fairness creates loyalty
How to build your reputation to become your greatest asset
You reputation is how others perceive you. You could say that you’re a high performer, but if you don’t consistently contribute and demonstrate that you can deliver the results the business cares about, your reputation will be that of a poor performer. No matter how much you say you’re a high performer. So if others are in control of your reputation because it’s their perception, what can you do to nudge them in the right direction to shape their perceptions about you? You can:
define your reputation goals. What three words do you want people to associate with you? Are those the same words they’d use today?
audit your current reputation. Gather feedback from trusted peers. Listen for recurring themes in how people describe you
close the gaps. Identify where perception doesn’t match intention. Take deliberate actions to shift the narrative
be consistent. Reputation is built through repeated behaviours, not one off gestures
shape the story. Share your wins strategically. Let others see the values and behaviours you want to be known for
If you’ve mastered those foundations, you could move on to:
building your reputation by association. Who you align with shapes how you’re perceived. Choose your allies carefully
understanding what your reputation is when you’re absent. How people describe you when you’re not in the room is the true test
repairing your reputation. If you’ve made a misstep, acknowledge it, act to correct it, and over deliver consistently until trust is rebuilt
leveraging your reputation. Use your reputation as political capital and sponsor others. It strengthens both yours and their reputation
Common mistakes leaders make
Reputation is often thought of as an intangible and the common mistakes product and transformation leaders make when it comes to their reputation are:
assuming reputation is static. It evolves constantly. Yesterday’s reputation doesn’t guarantee tomorrow’s. If you’re out of favour with a key stakeholder, don’t make someone else constantly fight your fights for you when it comes to influencing them. That’s not fair on anyone. Instead, work to repair your reputation
neglecting perception. Results matter, but how they’re perceived matters just as much. You could be doing everything you said you would but if none of it moves the dial on any of the outcomes the business needs to achieve, people will be questioning what your contribution and value is
over managing your image. Reputations built on spin and not substance will eventually collapse. People are smart and will eventually see through your smoke and mirrors
ignoring the small moments. Reputation is shaped as much by hallway conversations as in the boardroom. You’re always being watched and assessed
Balancing authenticity and strategy
Your reputation must be authentic for it to endure. You can’t fake competence, fairness, or consistency for very long. But authenticity alone isn’t enough. You must also be strategic in how your reputation is seen and being reinforced. The best product and transformation leaders:
live their values consistently
invest in building their reputation deliberately
repair their reputations quickly when they falter
use their reputation to lift others, not just themselves
Example 4: The reputation reset
A General Manager in Product known for being abrasive realised her reputation was limiting her influence. She thought she was being kind by being direct and truthful with those around her, but others perceived her approach as rude and fear inducing. She deliberately shifted her style to listen more, acknowledge others more, and show vulnerability. Over time, her reputation evolved from being “difficult to deal with” to being “direct but fair”
Lesson: reputations can be reshaped with intention and consistency
Your homework for this week
If three colleagues described your reputation today, what words would they use? Are those the words you want?
Things you could do to help you with this:
write down the three words you want to define your reputation
ask three trusted peers how they’d currently describe you
identify one gap between intention and perception
choose one consistent behaviour to close that gap
revisit in 90 days and track your progress
Why this matters
Your reputation is the invisible hand in every political interaction. It determines whether people trust your motives, believe in your promises, and follow your lead
Product and transformation leaders who treat reputation as an asset, not an accident, build political capital that endures. They know that in the politics of leadership, reputation isn’t just what people think of you. It’s what they say about you behind your back that makes everything else possible - or impossible
Want to shape your reputation to be your most valuable political asset?
Let’s work on this together. Here are three ways:
Influencing for Impact: This practical 2-day workshop is for you if you want to influence a decision maker, influence a change in customer or colleague behaviuor, or influence someone to buy something from you
Executive and Leadership Team Coaching: Work directly with Lai-Ling to problem solve for your specific situation in a confidential setting. This is for you if you want to develop and execute on a game plan that is 100% tailored to you
Leadership Development: Invest in the product and transformation leaders in your company with leadership development that is customised for their role. This is for you if you want your people to learn about people and politics