If only having a good reputation at work was as simple as keeping your nose to the grindstone and working hard. In reality, the complexities of office politics means that a lot of factors contribute to what kind of reputation you have amongst your colleagues and bosses. That’s not to say that you can’t influence what others think of you in the workplace.

 Check out these 10 ways to build a positive reputation at work.

1) Fit in With Company Culture:

Each organisation has its own culture, its own way of doing things. Boost your reputation by making sure your words and behaviour align with what is deemed culturally acceptable within the company. If you’re seen to be inappropriate within the context of your employer’s culture, this won’t do your reputation any favours at all.

2) Give People What They Want:

It’s very important to know what your colleagues want from you, because if you give them what they want you’ll earn both their gratitude and respect. The way to find out how your co-workers want you to help and support them is to communicate with them regularly, clearly and willingly.

3) Be Smart But Comfortable:

To build a reputation as a professional you need to dress like a professional. However, you want whatever you’re wearing to be comfortable as well as smart. You don’t want to be known in the workplace as the person who’s always fiddling with their clothes because said clothes are too tight, itchy or whatever.

4) Look After Yourself:

Just turning up for work isn’t enough to get you a good reputation. You have to be present in mind as well as in body. The best way to be on the ball and performing well at work is to look after your health and wellbeing by getting plenty of sleep, keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day, eating nutritionally-balanced meals and exercising regularly.

5) Be Easy to Work With: 

People have to deal with enough problems at work without their colleagues being a hassle. If you’re known for having an easy-going personality you’ll be seen as an asset to the company by everyone who works there. Being easy-going doesn’t mean being a pushover; it’s more about having a positive attitude whatever you’re doing and whoever you’re working with.

6) Be Interested in Others: 

In the spirit of the saying “Be interested to be interesting”, you’ll do your reputation the world of good if you’re seen to be showing a genuine interest in your colleagues, managers, customers and anyone else who’s around you at work. Listen to people when they’re talking to you, ask them questions and acknowledge that you’ve heard them by responding to what they’ve said rather than trotting out stock answers.

7) Love Who You Are: 

If you’re comfortable in your own skin and like yourself, other people will like you too. In this context “loving yourself” isn’t about arrogance or narcissism but about having an attitude towards yourself that helps you allow other people to like you. Also, if you’re nice to yourself you’ll find it easier to be nice to other people – something that always helps your reputation.

 8) Be Reliable:

You want a reputation as someone who does what they say their going to do, at the time they say they’re going to do it. The only way to get this reputation is to be that person. Always under-promise so that you can over-deliver instead of letting people down because you’ve bitten off more than you can chew.

9) Mind Your Manners:

You can have a good reputation even with people you barely interact with at work if you’re polite and remember the basics of civility whenever you do interact with them. It’s true what they say – “please” and “thank you” will take you a long way.

10) Become the “Go-To” Person:

Few people have a better reputation in your company than the “go-to” person. You yourself can become the person that everyone knows they can go to for anything. Make yourself available to help out on an ad-hoc basis and directly ask people if you can help them if they seem to be struggling with something or have a need that you can meet. You can do all this while still maintaining boundaries and not turning into the person that everyone dumps their stuff on – for example, if you’re a line manager you may want to operate an “open door” policy with your team but only during certain hours.

source: http://bit.ly/2p2cEU8