Lessons I Have Learned About Maintaining a Good Reputation (It’s Less About Me, More About You)

Reputation is one of those things that takes a lifetime to build and a moment to lose. As someone who has spent decades caring for patients, serving in organized dentistry and working alongside colleagues from all walks of life, I have come to understand that maintaining a good reputation is not at all about me crafting a perfect image for myself. A good reputation is built over time in the eyes of others as I consistently show up for them. Reputation, at its core, is relational. The relationships that define our professional lives–whether with patients, peers or the public–are built on trust, service and humility.

Lesson 1: Respect Is Earned in the Small Moments

When I read patient reviews of our practice, I’m struck by how often they mention the little things. The warm greeting at the front desk. The clear explanation of a procedure. The follow-up call to check in. Patients may come in for treatment, but what stays with them is how they were treated.

“Everyone in the office was kind, courteous, and professional. They took great care in explaining the procedure and ensuring I was comfortable the entire time.”– Google Review

Respect is earned with active listening, preparedness and treating every person with the deepest dignity.

Lesson 2: Service First, Always

During my time in the Navy, I came to understand leadership as a commitment to the people in my service. The weight of responsibility–caring for those in my command, making sound decisions, earning trust–was something I carried with me every day, and it continues to shape how I lead in dentistry today. In dentistry, our work is centered on care. We reduce pain, restore confidence and in many cases, help people feel human again. That doesn’t stop when the procedure ends. Our commitment to others–through mentoring a new dentist, advocating for patient-centered policies or supporting a colleague in need–says more about character than any accolade ever could. A good reputation follows those who serve with consistency and sincerity.

Lesson 3: Integrity Isn’t Optional

There’s no shortcut to credibility. You can have the degrees, the experience and the skills, but if you don’t have integrity, none of it matters. In today’s world—where every interaction can be reviewed, shared and remembered—you can’t fake it. Patients, staff and colleagues alike will remember if you kept your word, admitted when you were wrong and led with honesty. Integrity calls for accountability over perfection.

Lesson 4: Know Who You’re Representing

One of the most important shifts in my career came when I realized that my reputation wasn’t just about me. When you’re a dentist, a team leader or a representative of the profession, your actions reflect on everyone connected to you. When I walk into a room, I represent not only my practice, but every patient I’ve treated, every colleague I’ve worked with and every organization I’ve served. That includes our local dental society, our state association and our national profession. That’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

Lesson 5: Stay Grounded in People, Not Praise

The most meaningful feedback I’ve received in my career has come from the quiet gratitude of a patient, a note from a mentee or a handshake after a hard conversation. When we focus on people over praise, service over self and contribution over credit, reputation takes care of itself.

Reputation is Legacy in Motion

A good reputation is born from how you make people feel and built in continuous service to hundreds, if not thousands of others. If you are kind, competent and consistent, people will remember. If you are generous with your time and your care, people will share your name. If you lead with heart, people will follow you with great loyalty.

Here’s the key question to gauge reputation: How many people are better off because you showed up for them?