The personal brand topic is often the most sought after item among my UpLeaders and UpSkills clients and with a good reason. We always want to understand how we are being perceived and how this will impact our professional future.
So, if you are interested in taking the first steps to identify your personal brand, this post is for you.
First, let’s be clear: personal branding is a MUST for everyone, no matter the role or the seniority.
Allow me to convince you that taking care of your personal brand should be at the top of your professional priorities. Whether you work for a company or you are an entrepreneur, this is important for you. I aim to do this through this quote from Tom Peter, business management expert, that sums it up very nicely:
“All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You”
I want you to understand that you are already building your personal brand, whether you were aware of it or not. You do this through every professional interaction you make, so you might as well put a little TLC into it, right?
Second, assess the situation: understand your current personal brand.
Your personal brand is how you are being perceived right now. This can be a little scary, especially if this is the first time you are putting some attention on this. If you want to start analyzing how you are being perceived, choose five people that have worked or done business with you, and ask them to describe you in three words. This exercise comes from Dorie Clark, expert on the matter.
But you must promise that you will maintain an open mind about whatever results you get. And if you don’t like what you hear, guess what, it’s time to start changing that narrative.
Third, start moving from A to Z: create a strategy for your desired Personal Branding
Once you know where you are, think about where you want to go. Here, we are entering the Personal Branding arena. Here is where you start acting as the Public Relationship Manager of Me Inc, get it?
This means if most people described you as a play-by-the-book, reliable, low-profile kinda person… but your dream job has to do with innovation and taking risks… yes, your personal brand is NOT helping you get there at all.
Whatever the result might have been, map your current brand against your professional goals. And start changing those adjectives that you don’t want to be associated with your professional reputation any longer.
If you feel that you still need more help advancing your career…
You can read my blog about Three things that are stalling your career growth here. Maybe you would like to work a little more on your mindset, and I have a post that can help you. Go here to find out how you can Align your thoughts now to create your future.
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