Just one look at the eyes of the child in the picture below and you immediately sense the debilitating effect negative words can have. The stream of toxic words gripping his neck not only holds him prisoner; they seem to suppress his spirit, effectively changing who he might become.
A similar stranglehold presents itself when someone struggles to overcome a bad reputation. The childhood rhyme “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”- is an absolute lie. The truth is… some words hurt. Toxic words are debilitating and some cut far deeper than any knife can.
Reputation Cultivation
A reputation, good or bad, is cultivated over time. If you are known for doing “good” things people will tend to consider you to be a good person. The opposite is also true. If you don’t want loved ones, potential employers, academic institutions or law professionals to see compromising pictures or shallow statements shared online, do not leave them behind.
Avoid Character Assassination
To avoid having your character questioned or destroyed online, follow these steps:
- Be authentic, always.
- Represent yourself accurately online, especially on social networks.
- Exercise digital discipline by making sure the time spent online is meaningful and sensible.
- Be able to separate yourself from mobile device(s) and other technologies. Put the mobile phone away or turn it off during certain times of the day (e.g., dinner).
- Turn the negative into positive.
- Handle your digital disagreements with tact. Shy away from name calling, rude or disrespectful responses online.
- When it comes to refreshing or recovering from bad press, persistence counts. Keep your head up and persist.
Teachable Moments
Gossip, poor online reviews, abrasive comments and customer complaints are all things that can lead to a bad reputation but they can also be embraced as teachable moments. Ask someone trying to recover from an onslaught of bad press or negative word of mouth and they will tell you it only takes one bad choice to find yourself smack dab in the eye of a mainstream and social media storm. When online comments draw negative attention, conversations can stir up a hornet’s nest of emotions and they can create opportunities where sensitive, meaningful lessons are learned.
Whether it’s talking about social responsibility, diabetes, or the tooth fairy, life has a way of highlighting teachable moment topics. Every teachable moment gives you room to step back and critically think about ways to gain a better understanding of the issues being discussed. Taking the time to represent yourself well online is invaluable.
What teachable moment(s) have you experienced online?
