The great American humorist and philosopher Will Rogers reminded us…
“It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, but you can lose it in a minute.”
What’s more valuable to a leader than reputation? To apply Will Rogers’ insight, let’s first consider all that you do to build a good reputation. You need to repeatedly fulfill your promises in ways that meet and even exceed expectations.
We likely agree that integrity is a critical leadership trait. With your reputation on the line, I would argue that a leader’s integrity is so important that it needs to be defended whenever it’s threatened or challenged.
An active, preemptive approach to guarding your integrity is always the best practice.
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Our big problems and challenges don’t call in advance to make an appointment. They show up without warning to disrupt our best laid plans. We all get blindsided. Unforeseen events disrupt your promises, and thereby threaten your integrity.
While we like to believe we’re good at expecting the unexpected, we’re all subject to being surprised by disruptive occurrences.
That leads me back to my opening question:
Many consider the word preemptive in a military context. (as in a preemptive strike) It can also apply to investing and playing Bridge.
I’m applying it to protecting your reputation and guarding your integrity.
Consider that unforeseen event that disrupts your ability to deliver on promises or expectations.
Ignoring won’t make it go away. It will damage your reputation.
Yes, the term preemptive is frequently associated with war tactics. And many have grown tired of war terms in organizational context. But your reputation can be destroyed in minutes. Isn’t it worth defending by being preemptive?
The world can be empathetic and even forgiving to those experiencing hardships. But not to leaders who offer excuses and blame over solutions and regenerated, realistic promises they deliver on.
Your next disruptive surprise will happen any time now. How will you respond to the stakeholders of your promises?
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