Yesterday I introduced the concept of “Competently Courageous” (an idea coined by James Detert in his research on risk).
But you ask, HOW do I become COMPETENTLY COURAGEOUS, especially if I want to ensure ethical behavior that aligns with strongly held values and beliefs?
An intentional step that you can begin to develop TODAY is to work on establishing a strong reputation within your organization or your sphere of influence. Every day be kind to others; hold others accountable and do so with compassion; demonstrate integrity; be a model of your values; apologize when needed; be reliable; follow through on commitments; know your stuff; choose your battles; take small stands on issues so that others know that when you speak up, it is something to listen to; cultivate broad networks, including people who think and believe like you do but also with those that think differently or even oppose you.
By doing these small, intentional acts every single day, you build social capital. As you build capital, it also builds your influence. Like a bank account, the more you have, the more you can spend and the more risks you can take.
What other intentional acts would you add to the list to build your reputation? What advice would you give others about building their reputations?