Reputation, Reputation, Reputation

In life or in business, it is worth noting that our reputation is based on the sum total of how our stakeholders perceive us. We may believe we are good and some believe they are a far better than they actually are (opinion).

Perception is often
different to reality

Across the world today, there are so many challenges that people will face. True disaster, injury, illness, psychological and mental health issues, physical abuse, famine, war, terrorism, conflict, hunger and pain, but to name a few. We each face our own personal tragedies, either privately or business related.

Reputation

In the UK over the last week, an ex professional footballer (soccer) was captured on video spitting towards the direction of another car travelling alongside his. This followed some ‘exchange of words’ between the ex professional and the person videoing the incident.

This story was/is high profile news in the UK, regardless of the other millions of life threatening issues going on.

It’s a news story and
stakeholders have an interest!

Some of the other facts in this incident are:

1. The ex professional footballer is now a TV Pundit working for SKY, in particular giving his expert opinion on football games.
2. SKY of course, is a global business and brand
3. The person videoing the ex professional was an adult male. It is known that a 14-year girl was in the passenger seat of the car the ex professional spat towards. The girl is the daughter of the driver filming the incident. The name of this other driver has now been published.

Reputation

Lessons identified from this ‘unsavoury’ incident will be captured in time and there remains some potential legal issues to be considered on all parts. I have only stated some of the facts above.

But there is an important business continuity management (BCM) and resilience element here that should not go unnoticed by those working in managerial roles.

How reputation can so easily
be placed in the spotlight?

Whether you are an employee, an employer, an entrepreneur, a corporate organization or even a country, brand reputation is critical to attract trust and future business. Years of hard work building up the ‘brand’ and feeling ‘comfortable’.

“Looks like we made it”, as Barry Manilow once sang.

We are successful, even when working within the guidelines and regulations of the organization or our own personal ethics. We are resilient…..?

“A moment of madness” the ex professional has since suggested when facing the media.

But these things happen in life; ‘moments of madness or unplanned, uncalled for, unexpected occurrences’ which damage the ‘brand’. In this case, as more evidence and facts became more public, ‘brands’ become tarnished. The ex professional, SKY, and the father/driver.