At the end of the day, there are no untold stories. If you’re a leader, the stories that are told about you matter a great deal because they determine your reputation, and, as my mother used to say, “You have to protect your reputation because it’s the only one you have.” When your reputation is tarnished, you lose your credibility, and when your credibility goes, you lose the one thing leaders need most: the trust of the people you lead. Remember also that you have a different reputation with every person who knows you. Work hard to make each one a good one.
