Nothing compares to being the type of leader who knows exactly who she is and doesn’t let outside pressures dictate her personality or leadership style. When you know who you are, what you want to accomplish and what’s out there when it comes to opportunities, you can easily direct your career down the path you’re after. And, by making an imprint on your colleagues with your personal brand, you’ll find yourself surrounded by opportunity.
If you’re still wondering what a personal brand is, picture it this way – your personal brand is how people remember you and differentiate you from other members of the team. It goes beyond just your work, but also showcases how you interact in business, with colleagues, clients and even on the web. So, how do you develop your own and why does it even matter? Here are a few tips to get you started.
5 Tips to Developing Your Own Personal Brand (And Why It Matters)
- How would you describe yourself and your role at your company? You’ve probably heard of an elevator speech – well, this is yours. Spend some time crafting a short statement about what you do and why you provide value to the team and the firm.
- Why would someone want to work with you or bring you onto their team? This is another important statement to nail down. What is it that sets you apart from the next person and everyone else out there who is job hunting or ready for the next step?
- What is it about you that your team members gravitate toward? Are you fun to work with? Do you have excellent systems for getting projects accomplished? Be able to define (for yourself) what it is about you either as a leader or a team member that showcases your contribution and general demeanor as part of the staff.
- Define your reasoning for being part of the industry that you work in. What is it about that industry that’s compelling to you and keeps you engaged? How do you contribute in ways that keep you challenged and seeking the next opportunity?
- Be OK with having areas that need improvement and be ready and able to define those competencies where you could use additional experience. But also be able to showcase the areas in which you truly shine – and don’t be shy about that either.
When it comes to having a personal brand, you are really the only one who can make that happen. Depending upon your education, leadership style, years of experience, personality etc. each person out there is as unique as all the billions of brands being advertised around the globe each day. The differentiator is knowing which brand is which – and for you – it’s all about being sure you’re not lost in the crowd. Figure out what you want to be remembered for and making that your showcase competency.
Have you thought about developing a personal brand? Can you see why it’s so important?
