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DQ News: Capt Sully Sullenberger’s Tips on Building a Strong Reputation (and how it can help your biz)

Chesley B. Sullenberger (aka “Sully”) was at the 2011 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 27^th. The pilot and founder of Safety Reliability Methods Inc offered valuable advice for leaders as well as business owners on how to build a good reputation.

Sully the Hero

You may remember Sullenberger for safely landing a plane in the middle of the Hudson River in New York City after one of the engines broke in 2009. His successful emergency maneuver and calm under pressure earned him the praise of everyone in the U.S. as well as the title of hero.

“Lead by Example”

Highlights from the Forum include a quote from Sullenberger, in which he says that he built his reputation “by leading by example, by having integrity, by insisting on the highest professional standards, by creating a team out of a disparate collection of individual strengths.”

This goes to show that you don’t need an elaborate business plan to build up its reputation, but that there are no shortcuts either. In a poll conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), 99% of small employers strongly agreed that one needs to “establish reputation, trust, and credibility with customers.”

A good reputation is important not only to gain and keep customers, but also to get others to do business with you. A business with good standing is more likely to get regular customers as well as referrals. With a good reputation, businesses can find better and faster funding, with lower rates and reasonable terms. Landlords, lenders, wholesalers, and employees will give their best to a company that they believe in.

Six Tips from Sully on Building a Strong Reputation

As Sully said, one of the top ways to build a strong reputation is to lead by example. Here are 6 other tips.

• A team of well-trained employees: Not only will this help run a business more smoothly, but in case the owner has to be gone for whatever reason, there will be qualified team members to keep things in order.
• Be Omnipresent: Being there does not mean micromanaging. Let your employees do their work, but supervise operations to make sure that everything is going as planned. This is also achieved by…
• Good Communication: Avoid misunderstandings that can damage productivity and lower team morale by keeping an open door. Communication includes everything from clear work schedules to having a suggestion box, to being available to talk to members of the team.
• Promote a Pleasant Atmosphere: A happy worker is a productive worker. And a customer who has a good experience with your business is twice as likely to return.
• Pay On Time & Keep Records: Keeping a balanced checkbook will benefit your business on many levels. For one, if you pay on time and keep a record of all expenses and transactions, there is a lower error margin, and therefore a smaller chance of losing money. And as mentioned before, orderly finances will make it easier to get capital.
• Protect Your Data: Don’t let competitors or spammers get hold of your information. Shred old, unneeded documents, and protect your digital data on a server that’s off-site, preferably in a different city.

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Photo Credit: ingridtaylar

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