Remember that well-worn expression about being judged by the company you keep?
Mike Myatt, “chief strategy officer” with N2growth, says that executives need to be cautious about the company they keep lest their personal brands, i.e. their reputations, suffer.
The reality is that who you associate with on both a personal and professional basis matters…There is truth in the old axiom which states “perception is reality” and this is particularly accurate when the perception catches fire and becomes a widely held belief. The good news is that if you make sound choices in your personal and professional relationships you will benefit from doing so. On the other hand, should your choices place you in the company of those who are not respected and largely thought of in ill fashion by others, your personal brand will likely suffer as a result.
Myatt uses the example of Barack Obama and the candidate’s long-time association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a minister who was videotaped giving anti-white sermons to his congregation.
There is no denying that Senator Obama’s personal brand has undergone tremendous scrutiny and has received a glut of negative attention as a result of this one single relationship.
Myatt argues that executives should choose their acquaintances based on shared values, rather than a short-term focus on social or business advantages.
Although it is hard to disagree with his premise, the reality is that it often takes time and personal experience with someone before their true value system emerges. Becoming too cautious can quickly limit an executive’s exposure to new ideas, cultures, and attitudes.
To read Myatt’s blog, click here.
