Inspired by Seth Godin’s “Status Symbols“
Seth Godin recently published a sharp little post listing the countless ways humans signal status — the college sweatshirt, the dog breed, the stroller, the email response time. His conclusion: “Humans care about status and affiliation. We’ve spent our lives being very good at noticing both.”
He’s right. And in the world of crisis and reputation management, that insight carries enormous weight.
Here’s what I preach: your reputation is always transmitting. Every decision you make — what you say, what you don’t say, how fast you respond in a crisis, who speaks for your organization — is a status signal. Your stakeholders are reading every one of them. You are continually ‘telling a story’ whether you realize it or not.
Think about it. When a crisis hits, and a CEO goes silent for 72 hours, that silence is a signal. When a company issues a cold, legal-scrubbed statement with zero humanity, that’s a signal. When a leader steps in front of the camera, owns the moment, and speaks with clarity and conviction — that, too, is a signal. A signal of trust.
The problem? Most leaders don’t realize their reputation is broadcasting 24/7 until it’s too late.
I’ve spent decades advising organizations in their worst moments. The ones who recover fastest aren’t necessarily the ones who made the fewest mistakes. They’re the ones who understood that every action, or inaction, shapes how the world sees them.
Reputation isn’t built in a crisis. It’s revealed by one.
So, before the next storm hits, ask yourself: what signals is your organization sending today? Because your stakeholders are already watching, reading, and deciding what you stand for. It’s what we call your Reputational Piggy Bank.
Build it intentionally. Protect it fiercely. Ensure an adequate balance so the inevitable withdrawal doesn’t force closure.
— Rob Weinhold, Founder & CEO, Fallston Group
