Damaged Reputation: How To Rebuild a Tarnished Relationship in Business

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Have you ever worried that mistakes in business have left you with a damaged reputation? Maybe you’ve struggled with poor follow-through, broken commitments, or unintentionally taking people for granted. If so, you’re not alone—and this episode of The Sales Maven Show is for you.

In today’s conversation, Nikki Rausch tackles the tough but vital subject of rebuilding trust when your reputation has taken a hit. Drawing from listener feedback, Nikki shares insights into how entrepreneurs and sales professionals can acknowledge their missteps and start fresh with clients, colleagues, and business partners. She reminds us that reputation isn’t built on perfection—it’s built on consistent patterns of behavior. The encouraging news? You have the power to reshape those patterns and repair relationships over time.

Nikki introduces a practical framework inspired by Scott Galloway’s crisis management strategies: acknowledge, take responsibility, and overcorrect. Acknowledging means owning your mistakes without excuses. Taking responsibility requires being clear and direct about what went wrong. Overcorrecting means showing up better than before, demonstrating with consistent action that you’re committed to change. Whether it’s sending regular updates, setting realistic commitments, or simply saying, “I appreciate you,” these steps go a long way in restoring credibility.

Throughout the episode, Nikki shares examples from her own sales career, illustrating how something as simple as returning calls and emails consistently helped her earn the trust of clients and partners. She also walks through practical scenarios—what to say when you’ve failed to follow through, how to reset expectations when you’ve overcommitted, and how to show genuine appreciation when you’ve taken someone for granted. Each example includes actionable scripts and ideas to help you rebuild bridges.

But Nikki also emphasizes that repairing a damaged reputation doesn’t mean you’ll win everyone back. Some people may not offer a second chance, and that’s okay. What matters most is how you choose to show up moving forward. By being present, consistent, and willing to extend grace to others, you not only strengthen your reputation but also deepen the trust and loyalty of those who value your work.

If you’ve been carrying the weight of a damaged reputation, this episode offers hope, perspective, and tangible tools to help you move past guilt and into growth. Reputation repair is possible—and it starts with the small, intentional actions you take today.

Nikki invites you to join the Sales Maven Society. Take advantage of this opportunity to work together with you and Nikki. Bring your questions, concerns, and sales situations; she provides answers and guidance. Join the Sales Maven Society here, click Join Today, and then checkout and use coupon code 47trial to get your first month for $47.00!