GUARDING YOUR ONLINE IMAGE
I believe that everyone who has a business already knows how important it is to effectively and efficiently manage his/her online space. As business executives, we are already accustomed to constantly seek ways to steer our organizations toward success, ensuring growth, profitability and long-term sustainability. But, that is not all. In today’s digital age, the management of our online reputation is another crucial aspect of leadership that requires our keen attention.
With the way news, feedback and opinions spread across the internet at lightning speed, protecting and managing your reputation is no longer optional – it is essential. What is said about you or your business online can shape perceptions, influence key stakeholders and determine the level of trust the public has in your leadership and business.
It is important therefore to be abreast with Online Reputation Management (ORM) and practical strategies we can implement to ensure we manage our digital footprint effectively.
A good question to ask is why online reputation management is now so critical to business leaders?
Well, as business leaders, our reputations are among our most valuable assets and in the past, public relations units and agencies helped corporations to manage their public image by focussing primarily on information available via traditional media outlets and within business circles. Personal reputation distortions were quickly dealt with either through legal routes or demands for retractions and apology through same media outlets. Today, the lines between personal and professional reputations are increasingly blurred. The rise of social media, blogs, review sites, and online forums means that anyone, anywhere, can shape the conversation about you or your company.
Consider the impact a single negative tweet can have on your business. In moments, it can be shared, commented on and spread across platforms, reaching thousands – millions even – of people, including your customers, investors and potential partners. Equally, positive content can be amplified, boosting your brand’s credibility and reach. This is the dual-edged nature of the digital world and makes its management super important in the business world.
Secondly, the internet is often the first place people turn to learn about leaders and businesses. According to recent studies, over 80% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. The first impression people get when they Google your name can significantly impact their trust in your leadership and business. Investors, potential partners, and clients often conduct their research online before engaging with a business. A strong and positive online presence can lead to new opportunities, while a tarnished reputation can close doors before discussions even begin.
A third reason why online reputation management is very important is that it comes in handy in the event of a crisis. Whether it is a product failure, organisational integrity issue or a personal controversy, having a well-managed, active and positive online reputation can help cushion the impact and provide a platform for transparent communication. We have seen a number of organisations that have waded through some scandals bordering on integrity and how their online presence and perception helped or undermined their positions.
Lastly, as a leader, your personal brand is intertwined with your company’s identity. Managing your online reputation enables you to shape perceptions, demonstrate thought leadership, and engage with industry peers, further solidifying your position as an influential figure in your field.
Let’s survey how the decisions we make, the narratives we control and the steps we take in the online world can boost our reputations, enhance our leadership and strengthen our businesses.
- Take Control of your Narrative
The most effective way to manage your online reputation is to build it proactively. Don’t wait for others to define who you are or what your business stands for, take control of your narrative. Give necessary information on time and in the manner that best portrays your organisational and personal brands.
Be business minded about the content you share. Create and share content that shows your expertise in your field and any other area of interest. Post well researched insights about your industry issues or leadership generally. Engage with different levels of clients through diverse platforms making sure that the information you put out agrees with the target audience. By constantly providing valuable content, you position yourself as a thought leader and shape the conversation around your brand.
Create opportunity for interaction. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and a few others provide opportunities to interact with a wide audience and this directly or indirectly impacts on the overall bottom line. Regular engagement shows that you are approachable and responsive to your followers. This mostly helps convert audience into customers and clients. However, many business leaders are wary of this level of exposure because of the option of anonymity provided by the social media and how people misuse this option as a tool for vindictive attacks on leaders. To handle this, some social media managers create time windows during which responses and feedback can be sent in and these are sieved for relevance and objectivity before being accepted. Find a way round your challenges and use these platforms to build a positive and consistent image.
Be consistent with your branding. You can add to your image or enhance already existing picture but don’t make radical alterations without due conversations. Take your audience as stakeholders and walk them through major shifts. This will make them feel invested in your new venture and identity. Ensure that your online profiles on LinkedIn, company websites and other platforms reflect the same values, vision and attitude that you embody in your daily leadership.
(More tools for your online reputation management in the next upload)
Fatherhood with Ibe
HOW FAR IS TOO FAR? (2)
Curiosity and perhaps a sense of obligation made me click on the email sent by Tai.
It was a letter.
Dear Prof,
I hope this letter finds you well. It’s been a long time since we last spoke and I cannot pretend not to know that my recent actions have been a big disappointment to you. I sincerely apologize. I’ve made a lot of mistakes Sir and I’m struggling to find my way back.
One of my biggest mistakes was not listening to you. My distance from you has caused me career and personal losses too great to enumerate. Please forgive me and give me a second chance.
My disobedience led to the discord with my dear wife, May and the total breakdown of my marriage. You always told me that marriage is a journey, one that requires patience, understanding, and above all, love. I thought I understood that, but I was wrong. When May and I decided to wait before having children, it was the right choice then. But as time went on and we were ready to start a family but nothing happened, I became impatient. I let that impatience fester and I took it out on May. I let my frustration blind me to her pain, and I said things – terrible things – that I can’t take back.
I don’t know how it got this bad. I loved May – I still do, but somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what really mattered. My relatives interfered … and I let them. I stood by while they disrespected May in our own home and instead of defending her, I joined them. I have to tell you the truth; I called her barren, a retired whore and a leech. I still can’t understand where those terrible words came from. The memory of that sad episode makes me cringe. I made my wife feel worthless when all she ever wanted was to be a good wife and to make me happy.
Sir, I’ve never regretted anything more in my life.
It didn’t take me long to realise that no one can replace May; she is a special woman. Out of shame, I tried to move on, but every attempt just made me realise how desperately I need her and how much I miss her. I know I’ve hurt her deeply, and I don’t know how to fix it. I’m afraid that I’ve lost her for good.
Please help me Prof. I’m writing to you because I know she would listen to you. You’ve always been someone we both look up to, someone who’s been there for us, someone who knows our journey and is kind enough to spare time for us. I know I have messed up. I just need your help. I need to find a way to apologize to May, to ask for an opportunity – no matter how slim – to make it up to her forever..
Please help me. I don’t know who else to turn to.
Sincerely,
I set my phone down on a side stool, my heart was heavy. Tai’s words were laced with regret, but they also revealed the depth of the pain he had caused. This wasn’t just about creating an opportunity for reconciliation; this was about confronting the man he had become – a man I hardly recognized.
For days, I did nothing about his request. I thought about all the advice I had given over the years. I felt he had treated me disrespectfully not just by ignoring my advice but by making no effort to reach out to me and explain what happened when it happened. He behaved as if I was of no consequence to him and a part of me wanted to tell him to carry on without me. Yet, despite my disappointment, I couldn’t ignore the sincerity in his words. Tai was asking for help, not just to fix his marriage, but also to reposition his life and career.
My mind kept returning to May – the hurt in her eyes as she wept her heart out the last time she came to report the ugly words thrown at her by Tai. Can I really ask her to forgive Tai, I asked myself? Am I able to guarantee that he would not misbehave again and bolt off? What if no baby came? Would Tai remain content with May?
Too many questions! Each one was begging me to steer clear of the matter; let Tai sort out his mess.
In the end, I knew I couldn’t ignore his plea. If there was a chance – no matter how small – that I could help him find redemption, I had to take it. I picked up the phone and dialed his number.
Tai arrived at my house early the next morning, looking like a shadow of the man he once was. He had always been meticulous about his appearance, but that day, he looked disheveled, haggard, defeated. I led him into my study, the room where I had spent hours counseling him in the past. We sat in silence for a moment, the air between us heavy with unspoken words.
Finally, I broke the silence. “I received your mail, Tai.”
He nodded, not meeting my gaze.
“I didn’t know how else to reach out. I’m sorry, Prof. I know I’ve messed up. I have really messed up. Please help me in any way you can.”
“You didn’t just mess up. You broke a sacred trust. May trusted you to be her partner, her protector and you failed her woefully.” I said sternly.
Tai flinched at my words, but remained silent.
“Words are powerful,” I continued, “especially when said to inflict pain. The ones you chose cut your wife deeply.”
“I know,” he whispered. I saw tears roll down his cheeks.
I leaned forward and spoke in a calmer voice.
“Why, Tai? Why did you allow your frustration to overshadow your love for May?”
He shook his head, his voice cracking as he tried to explain.
“I don’t know. I guess I was scared – scared that we would never have children, that I would be seen as less of a man because of it. And when my relatives started saying nasty things about May, I felt like they were right.”
I sighed, rubbing my temple as I considered his words.
“Being a man isn’t about having children or meeting other people’s expectations. It’s about standing by the people you love, helping people to stand on their own feet and creating a safe space for others to thrive in.”
He nodded, tears welling up in his eyes again.
“I know… I know! I failed her. I don’t deserve her forgiveness but I don’t know how to live without it.” Tai said quietly.
I sighed. It was time to call May.
(Concluding part in the next upload)