Benjamin Franklin once said, “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” In the art pro world, we succeed and fail based on our reputations. How is yours? Are you building one that is followed by stories of competence and trustworthiness or are you known for unreliability and cruelty? Maybe you are just starting to build that reputation and you might think being behind the scenes means that you will be off the radar. Every choice you make causes ripples through our small international community, and a good reputation can be undone quickly for one person or one institution.
In a profession with very few official degrees and yardsticks, the impression you make will tell people a lot about how much they can trust you. In my latest podcast, I talk about one of the biggest agreements that you can undertake as a collections professional, the loan agreement. No matter how large your institution is, you can build trust with the world’s most careful lenders by learning to respect your peers and communicate clearly. You will build a lasting impression if you never overpromise.
Who you support is also a polarizing way to build allegiance. Look at this week’s articles to learn about how people in and around our community are making an impact and creating a commentary about where they draw the line. Sometimes taking a drastic stance is the only way to make a mark on an issue.
Finally, how you interact with staff and stakeholders is key to building credibility. Check out this issues Resource section for places to find direction in DEAIB training, new reports on sensitive collections management, and design guidelines to make your projects accessible to all. If you want to be known for caring, do more than the bare minimum when working with both the visitors and the staff. No matter where you are in the hierarchy, what you do and how you treat people matters. Make sure you always work to build a community of support and transparency, and please reach out if APN can help you in those ventures.