Do you avoid paying your fair portion of the bill when you go out to lunch with a big group of business associates? Do you have all sorts of excuses to avoid paying your business/life coach or vendor on time? Why should you buy your assistant the expensive holiday gift- after all, you share your assistant’s services with a partner in your firm, so the partner should buy the nicer gift since he/she makes more money than you as an associate? Do you not go to feed the homeless with the rest of the office because there is no money to be made or prospects to be found at the homeless shelter?
So we all know of the stereo-types regarding cheapness. Obviously we can’t assume someone is cheap and attribute a negative personal brand to him/her, just because of a stereotype. It is unfair and not often true.
However, we have all seen the above-mentioned questions in the first paragraph play out. And- make no mistake about it, we have ALL taken note of your cheapness in these situations. We just don’t say anything to you. Maybe we don’t consciously realize we think you are “cheap”. However, we’ve stored away the causal connection between: 1) you, as a (insert your career title here) and, 2) you as a cheap person. The further conclusion we likely draw is that you are petty, greedy, a hoarder and all about yourself. Guess what folks- you now have a really negative personal brand that will require some serious work to rehabilitate!!
If you come across as cheap it means we do not want to do business with you. After all, you may rip us off or deny us our fair share of services, kudos, or kindness. No one in business wants to refer business to someone who is cheap. Not only do we not do business with you, but we likely don’t even want to be friends with you socially. You’ll likely be the one to bring the $2 bottle of wine to the holiday gift exchange.
So stop and think- are you cheap? Have you done things that could be seen as cheap or stingy? Or do you freely give of yourself and your time because you care about people and want to help? You have complete control over this personal brand perception maker/breaker.
EMAIL US AND SHARE A “CHEAP COLLEAGUE” STORY THAT HAS LEFT YOU WITH A NEGATIVE PERSONAL BRAND PERCEPTION OF THAT PERSON.
