From Reliable to Visible: Build a Reputation people talk about.

A reputation is like a quiet credit line you carry with you at work—it buys you trust, influence, and opportunity. 

So many people go to work and they are on autopilot. They don't know why they are doing things, what are their strengths, and what they are known for.

What happens is obvious: People lose control over their own story and career. They will be known for reliability, for delivering results, but remain invisible.

Companies don’t reward effort — they reward reputation.

If you have a big reputation, you will get the opportunities. Remember the credit line. Everybody knows the person with plenty of money.

Today, I’ll show you how to stop flying under the radar — and start being seen as valuable.

1. Reputation = What You're Known for (Not Just What You Do)

When people can’t describe you in one sentence — you don’t have a reputation yet. And what is even more important: Can you describe yourself in one sentence?

Once, I got two talents to work with me. They were planning THE big career. My first question was:

"How do you want to be seen?"

They went silent and said then:

"What do you mean?"

I replied:

"You are a talent and you want to prove that you are meant for more. But for what? How do you want to be seen by the management? As a strategic person, leader, Data guy, etc.?"

Most people don't know the answer, and neither did they. They were hustling on autopilot.

Start with these tactics:

• Ask yourself: “When people hear my name, what’s the first word they think of?” It's what you do, it's how you do it.
• Decide your anchor trait: problem-solver, communicator, strategist, doer, or connector.
• Build your behavior consistently around that identity.

2. Don’t Just Deliver — Narrate Your Work

One of the biggest workplace blunders is: "Let my work speak for itself." Work rarely speaks for itself. Why? Who is seeing your results? Your Teammates?!

Imagine how long it would take the Apple iPhone to be spread around the world only by recommendation. Apple wouldn't exist anymore.

The answer to be seen at work is Marketing. That's what the big companies also do. But don't mix it with bragging or lying.

You can’t rely on people to “notice.” You must make your work visible.

Tactics:

• Use small “visibility moments” after delivery:
  → Slack update: “Project X done — here’s the outcome + learning.”
  → Meeting line: “We wrapped Y early — it helped Z move forward.”
• Send summary recaps that highlight your contribution and the impact.

Phrase tip:

“Sharing in case this’s useful — here’s what we improved + what it unlocked.”

I hope you see the difference between bragging. Self-marketing is sharing results.

3. Repeat the Right Story

Now, we know who we are and how we are seen. We need to repeat our story because people remember patterns. Repetition builds identity.

Build yourself a name or description like: Data Guy, Storyteller, Number Cruncher, The Offer Expert, The Hard Negotiator, etc.

There are so many options for a good name. Once done, share it. Share it often so that it sticks.

Tactics:

• Mention your key strength consistently:
  → “I love simplifying complex stuff…”
  → “What I’m best at is spotting blockers early…”
• Reinforce your story in 1:1s, retros, LinkedIn, or team forums.

4. Get Talked About in the Room You’re Not In

Your reputation is gaining momentum. You work hard, you deliver, and you share your story. The best reputations are built by other people saying your name.

Tactics:

• Be “the person who helped” — teach, support, and unblock others.
• Give others credit publicly → often leads to reciprocity.
• Say: “Happy to help — feel free to mention it in your next update.”

5. Create Signature Moves (Your Reputation Shortcuts)

We all know this person with the loud laugh, the specific fragrance, or the strong handshake. There is only one question to ask yourself:

Build or discover your signature move. To build it choose a thing you are good at or even better, what you like most.

Examples:

• Always follow up with crisp notes and insights → “You’re the clarity person.”
• Break complex topics into visuals → “You make it simple.”
• Fix blockers no one else touches → “You always get things unstuck.”

Most often, your signature move already exists. You just need to reveal it.
Ask:

“What do people come to me for?” → Double down on that trait publicly. Now, we are creating a Legend = Results + Story + Get talked about + Signature Move.

6. Reputation lasts and is bound to you

Reputation is the first step to a personal brand. Reputation is the internal view within your team or company. Personal Brand goes beyond.

When you step out of this zone, your anchor trait, your story, or your signature move still exists. Your reputation becomes your brand.

This is important when leave the company or even worse, when you "are left" the company - layoff.

A career move outside your current company is harder than an inside move. Outside your current role, nobody knows you and you need to rebuild things.

But with the steps above you can share your story in an application letter, CV, interview, or even social media. You don't struggle to tell your story.

Summary:
Reputation can be built. Either you build it actively and share it or it will be build by others - slowly. The slow path takes plenty of time and won't give you the visibility or opportunities you would like to have.
Reputation is this first step towards a personal brand and it will help you inside and outside your current role to gain visibility, and career momentum. Reputation paves the road to your career, inside or outside your current position. Own it. It's a power move.