University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Control the Narrative
Book

Control the Narrative

The Executive's Guide to Building, Pivoting and Repairing Your Reputation

Lida Citroën
Kogan Page, 2021
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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Comprehensive
  • Analytical
  • Applicable

Recommendation

You may not have complete control of how others perceive you, but Lida Citroën, an executive branding and reputation management expert, suggests your influence is greater than you think. In this comprehensive guide to protecting your good name, Citroën offers a step-by-step strategy for understanding, building, and advocating for your personal brand. She also provides advice for rehabilitating your image after someone tries to damage it. Citroën advocates taking proactive steps before you find yourself in a worst-case scenario. Social media have changed the rules, she emphasizes. Executives must develop increased awareness of the dangers lurking in the online universe. Reputation is critical for corporations, institutions, and leaders, so you can’t afford to leave yours to chance.

Summary

Take proactive measures to prevent someone from hijacking your reputation.

Leaving your reputation to chance is risky in today’s age of pervasive social media, where one click or post can cause irreparable damage. Without knowing the truth, the public often presumes individuals are guilty when allegations of misdeeds or indiscretions appear online. This leaves many people living with an unjustly tarnished reputation for years. You may believe that leading an honest, principled life is sufficient to protect your good name when someone attacks you. In fact, how others perceive you turns out to be the factor that can determine your lasting reputation.

If your boss considers you lackadaisical and selfish, he or she will block your path to advancement. You could even lose your job. That’s only one reason to prioritize carefully safeguarding your personal brand. You can’t protect yourself 100% from character assault, since you can’t control other people’s thoughts and feelings, but remaining passive means foregoing crucial opportunities to improve your position in an unpredictable environment.

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About the Author

Lida Citroën is an executive branding and reputation management specialist.

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