• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Stephan Hovnanian

Marketer, Strategist, Speaker. Welcome to my blog.

  • Welcome
  • Body of Work
    • Guest Articles
    • Article Features
    • Podcasts
    • Publications
    • Video Interviews
    • Presentations
  • Let’s Connect
    • Subscribe to Updates
  • Interviews and Speaking
    • Digital Assets
  • Blog
You are here: Home / Blog / My Thoughts on Authority, Reputation, Likability, Sustainability, and Celebrity

My Thoughts on Authority, Reputation, Likability, Sustainability, and Celebrity

Published: March 19, 2015

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares

It’s been a good week. New clients, meaningful content, and some very productive discussions. Indulge me as I highlight one and consolidate my thoughts onto my own real estate.

I listened to a podcast and transcript between +Demian Farnworth​ +Jerod Morris​ and +Sean Jackson​ about whether authority can be earned or bestowed. Good listen and congrats to +Copyblogger​ on the launch of their new Rainmaker.fm site, fantastic idea! http://goo.gl/8vhzJm

Anyway, here’s the thing about Authority and whether it’s earned or bestowed. It’s both, and there’s another term that loves to muddle things up: CELEBRITY.

It comes down to this: authority is earned, celebrity is bestowed. And it’s cyclical. You won’t have it bestowed upon you unless you earn it. You can’t earn it unless someone believes in you enough to hire you, so you can then earn it.

Likability and Reputation (My context)

I come from a family of entrepreneurs, as in pretty much all of them own their own businesses. Some large, some small, and we’re all blessed to have such a network of people who have mostly positive things to say about us.

Does reputation equal authority? No, it equals likability, but like celebrity, it can help build authority.

My father once said something to the effect of, “son, I can open all the doors in the world for you, but you’re the one who has to walk through them.”

The analogy of course being what I said in the beginning, that bestowments can only get you so far until you have to stand on your own two feet. And that it’s cyclical.

In my professional career, doors were opened, introductions were made, credibility was extended on faith because of the strength of relationships. But it was always up to me to prove my worth, which meant learning, applying, asking questions, and respecting those who were already sitting at the table. Those recommendations aren’t bestowed easily either.

When you take that approach, the authority you earn will be far stronger than simply trading on celebrity.

Out of your league

And then there’s the idea of relative authority. I may earn my place at your table, but wouldn’t be able to hack it at a table of people with far more experience than myself. Nothing at all wrong with this. You’re going to boost me, bestow me as an authority in your eyes, maybe help me catch the eye of someone at the next table, at which I’ll be quickly humbled.

But if I’m out of my league, I can take it in stride and learn, or cower and go back to where I’m a celebrity. See? Cyclical 🙂

Footnote on this section: In this online playing field, everybody can be treated as an equal which, of course, confuses people into thinking they’re hotter shit than they really are.

Sustainability:

To me, authority is sustainable. You’ve earned a seat at the table through hard work, but also because you can prove you aren’t a one hit wonder. It’s also impossible to have 100% earned authority, because this isn’t The Matrix and we can’t just automatically flutter our eyelids and know everything there is to know about a topic.

At some point, usually in the beginning, you need to work your mojo and get boosted. Someone has to open that door for you. And this will happen at each level. But as I’ve said, it’s your job to not only walk through the door, but prove that you belong there tomorrow, a month, and a year from now.

Perception is reality, fake it til you make it, all that stuff. Very important in the overall process, so long as you don’t decide to make it your primary calling card.

Smart minds will recognize these opportunities where they’re boosted to the edge of their own circle of authority, and sit back & learn.

Footnote 2: I came up with all that without having to listen to the podcast. After commenting enough on another thread I figured I should see if what I’m saying was in line with the discussion. It was, of course, 100%, which makes these points that much more important to understand.

Thanks for listening 🙂

  • About
  • Latest Posts

Stephan Hovnanian

I am a Strategy Consultant on Sprout Social’s professional services team. As a speaker and trainer, I focus on developing world-class practitioners of social and advocacy programs. Before joining Sprout, I ran a marketing consultancy for 15 years, and use that experience to shape the strategy of social programs so they launch successfully and drive measurable business value.

Latest posts by Stephan Hovnanian (see all)

  • Reflecting on a core values challenge - November 27, 2020
  • Adopt these communication norms for better meetings, emails and chat messages - July 8, 2020
  • Data can lead, but only if you know where you’re going - April 14, 2020
Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares

Filed Under: Blog

Stephan Hovnanian

I am a Strategy Consultant on Sprout Social’s professional services team. As a speaker and trainer, I focus on developing world-class practitioners of social and advocacy programs. Before joining Sprout, I ran a marketing consultancy for 15 years, and use that experience to shape the strategy of social programs so they launch successfully and drive measurable business value.

Footer

Get to Know Me

I’m a huge proponent of putting the “social” in “social media.” Let’s get to know one another on Twitter or Instagram. I also welcome the opportunity to speak on your podcast, webcast, or at your next event.

Latest Tweets

Tweets by stephanhov

Speaking Quick Links

Do you have an audience of business owners and marketers that could use insights to keep their companies ahead of the online marketing curve? I can help with that.

  • Interviews and Speaking
  • Podcasts
  • Presentations
  • Video Interviews
  • Digital Assets
  • Let’s Connect

Latest Articles and Appearances

Reflecting on a core values challenge

November 27, 2020 (Blog)

Adopt these communication norms for better meetings, emails and chat messages

July 8, 2020 (Blog)

Data can lead, but only if you know where you’re going

April 14, 2020 (Blog)

Say it with me: engagement doesn’t pay bills

February 14, 2020 (Blog)

What a kick in the butt taught me about trust

August 5, 2019 (Blog)

Advocacy in a Box – MarketingProfs B2B Forum #MPB2B

November 10, 2018 (Presentations)

Copyright © 2025 · Maker Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in