When it comes to personal brand, many of us are aware of the term, yet not of the influence it yields. Personal brand is the intellectual, visual and emotional impression people have when they think of you* and building one isn’t limited to influencers, entrepreneurs or celebrities, because whether we are aware of it or not, we all have one.
With this is mind, it’s important that we take the opportunity to consciously attend to our personal brand and get clear on our vision, otherwise it risks being dictated by ad-hoc behaviours that can very easily get away from us. Consciously attending to our brand means being aware of what you you want to be known for and who you want to be known by and activating that in service of your goals.
When considering a vision for personal brand and presence it helps to start with the end in mind. Understanding the end goal includes:
What you want to achieve – for example career progression, income, influence
What you want to be known for – the words others will use to describe you
Who needs to know you – key stakeholders that can help you advance or provide support
Strategies to employ – to best influence, connect and build rapport and relationships
Throughout June we will look at these four areas in more depth on our weekly Facebook Live sessions and discuss how to develop and articulate strategically the behaviours and presence we want to represent when in front of key stakeholders and others on a daily basis.
In the meantime, reflecting on these key questions can help gain some clarity
What are you passionate about?
What are your strongest attributes (your strengths)? What sets you apart?
What do you know / what experience do you have?
How would you summarise yourself in two minutes?
How do others describe you when you’re not in the room? (ask some trusted friends or colleagues to get an idea of how others perceive you)
Answering these questions helps us show up with authenticity (a key component of Core Confidence covered in Chapter 8); ask for help when we need it (Chapter 9); nurture our networks and relationships (Chapter 5) and live our personal brand to the best of our ability on a daily basis.
* Jenni Flinders
