48 Laws of Collaboration: Commit Your Reputation to Victory

Law of Power 5: So much depends on reputation—Guard it with your life.

Reputation is the cornerstone of power: through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once it slips however you are vulnerable and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them

Law of Collaboration 5: Commit your reputation to victory

“I’m a great believer in trying it. If your team worked really hard to launch a new business with you or for you, the least I think I can do is make a fool of myself, make sure that that new business ends up on the front page of the newspapers rather than an anecdote on the pages of the newspapers.”  Sir Richard Branson

Do not hide your reputation away, safe against the attack. Instead, share it and grow your reputation by committing your public image to success. Show the world that you stand behind your endeavors, that you support your team and are willing to look the fool if the business fails. This is the mark of true leadership. Let this also be a signal to you: if you are unwilling to commit your reputation to the outcome, do not proceed. There are no successful half-measures.