Personal branding is a buzz phrase but quite honestly, it hits the nail on the head. Who are you? What do you represent? And what can I expect by engaging with you? These are a few of the questions that are answered in advance of interactions just through a glimpse of your personal brand.
“Your personal brand is the way your values and talents are deliberately expressed through your profession, skill set, online presence, communication style, even clothing. Your personal brand represents what you stand for in a way that both defines you and sets you apart” explained Dorie Clark, Brand Expert and Strategy Consultant. *
A brand doesn’t have to be overdone, boastful or turned into a personal public relations campaign. In fact, everyone has a brand whether they realize it or not. What you do with that brand makes all the difference when you are trying to advance your career and be more successful in your personal and professional life.
Think about it. Companies look for unique and missing puzzle pieces to complete their success stories. You can be that defining solution if you position yourself accordingly.
Here are a few more questions to answer that will help you build your brand.
- What are you known for?
- What do you represent?
- What are your key contributions?
- What is your image and is it consistent with what you hope to represent?
- In a few words or less, how would people describe you?
- How would you like to be described?
- What can you, and only you, do for others?
Every one of my clients can tell you the power of their personal brand. We always start by unearthing this because everything, I mean everything, hinges on your understanding and exemplifying this powerful personal statement. Nothing says #Success like a finely tuned personal brand!
*More Magazine, December 2014
How to Be Career Happy? Build Your Personal Brand