Because you’re not fooling anyone else.
Fool Me Once…
A few years ago, my kids decided to prank their Dad for April Fools Day. They told him there was a leak under the bathroom sink. When he opened the cupboard, he found…. A leek. The vegetable. We were all entertained by his reaction, and the kids were quite proud of themselves.
It was so good, they tried doing the exact same trick the next year – but of course it didn’t work. This time, he saw them coming.
In business, our customers and employees learn from our actions just as quickly. We can fool our customers and employees exactly once, with slick marketing, heartfelt promises, and good intentions. But your real reputation is based on their experience: what you did, not what you said you’d do.
Show, Don’t Tell
“You can’t build a reputation based on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford
You’re always teaching people what to expect from you, whether you intend to or not. Imagine a business owner who says they value honest feedback and collaboration – but who is the first to cancel team meetings and one-on-ones whenever they get busy.
Or a company that promises “industry leading customer service” on their website, but takes three days to return a phone call.
A boss who says they value work-life balance, but regularly sends emails at midnight.
A sales pitch based on quality, for an organization constantly rushing to meet deadlines and skipping QA/QC steps.
When there’s a disconnect between what you say and what you do, trust erodes quickly.
What Will You Be Known For in 3 Years?
Your future reputation is being decided by today’s actions.
- Did you show up exactly as you meant to?
- Did you do the boring things consistently, giving them time to compound?
- Did you hold up your standards, even when no one was watching?
We humans are fast learners when it comes to recognizing patterns of actions vs words. Customers and employees alike might start to recognize your patterns before you do, because they’re not as invested as you are in any excuses or rationale to justify the gaps.
This Week’s Takeaway
Your reputation is built on what you do, not what you say you’ll do. The promises and core values on your website don’t mean as much as the habits, beliefs, and systems you put in place, which determine the actions you take and what you become known for.
This April Fools Day, take a look at where you might be trying to fool the people around you. How can you take control of your actions today, to strengthen the reputation you’ll have in the future?
Up Next – ActionCLUB: The Follow-Up Formula
Join the local business community in networking, learning, and pushing each other to excel on Friday, April 17th from 10-1 for my next in-person get-together, at ActionCLUB.
This month we’ll be discussing tactical, actionable insights and tools on how to build a sales process that closes, without feeling pushy.
Details
- Friday April 17th, 10am-1pm
- Located at Idea Mississauga, Square One
- Interactive session: “The Follow-Up Formula”
- Featuring table discussions & a networking lunch with local entrepreneurs
Supercommunicators: By Charles Duhigg
This book offers a useful lens on why some conversations seem effortless while others stall out. It breaks communication down into three layers: practical, emotional, and social, and suggests that most disconnects happen when we’re not aligned on which one we’re actually having. It’s a helpful framework for navigating everyday interactions, especially in business settings where what’s being said often isn’t the whole story.
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