We ask for recommendations all the time. But what people are really vouching for… is your reputation.
One of my favorite things to do is eat good food. I love trying new places (except fish… we’re just not compatible), and I love a great restaurant recommendation. It’s like a stamp of approval.
And how often do we look for that same kind of recommendation from coworkers, family, or friends?
Leadership
My son is applying for his first job, and we were talking about letters of recommendation.
And without thinking, I said,
“Yeah, they’re basically a letter of reputation.”
I paused. Laughed a little.
Because… it’s true.
A letter of recommendation is just someone putting their name next to yours and saying,
“I’ve seen how this person shows up. I trust how they work.”
That’s reputation.
And here’s what makes that interesting from a leadership lens:
Most of your reputation isn’t built in the big moments.
It’s built in the small, repeated ones.
How you follow through.
How you respond when something doesn’t go your way.
How you communicate when no one’s watching closely.
How you show up when it would be easy not to.
Over time, those moments stack.
And eventually, someone is willing to say:
“I trust them.”
“I’d work with them again.”
“I’d put my name behind theirs.”
That’s the ripple effect in real time.
It’s not just about what you accomplish.
It’s about the experience people have with you along the way.
And there’s another layer here.
Who you surround yourself with matters.
Because when you attach your name to others…whether that’s hiring, partnering, or recommending…you’re extending your reputation too.
It’s shared.
So whether you’re early in your career or leading a team, the question isn’t just:
“What am I producing?”
It’s:
“What reputation am I building… one interaction at a time?”
Because at some point, everyone needs someone willing to say,
“Yes, I stand behind them.”
Life
I’m not totally sure my 14-year-old heard any of that.
There’s a decent chance it landed somewhere between “job application” and “what’s for dinner?”
But I do think these conversations matter.
Because before there are resumes and references and interviews…
there are habits.
There’s how you treat people.
How you carry yourself.
How you handle responsibility when it’s small and low-stakes.
That’s where reputation actually starts.
Not when someone asks for it.
Long before.
And maybe that’s the reminder for all of us too.
We don’t suddenly build a reputation when we need one.
We reveal the one we’ve already been building.
So whether it’s your kid applying for their first job…
or you walking into your next meeting…
The opportunity is the same:
Show up in a way that someone would be proud to put their name next to yours.
That’s a ripple effect worth paying attention to.
Have Good Ripple Effect,
Lisa