Career Coaching, Job Interview Coaching, Career Management
Everyone has a personal brand, even if they are not aware of it. To create a personal brand that differentiates you from others and positions you in a positive light with employers to support you in achieving your career goals. Here we discuss tips on how to fine-tune your brand to ensure you get noticed.
If you are not aware of the impression you create, the best place to start is by asking others. Trusted colleagues and even friends and family are an excellent place to start. You want to ask people who are honest and be prepared to tell you straight how they perceive you. Some practical questions you can ask when seeking this feedback include:
Once you have deepened your awareness and learned about your current impression, you need to decide if this impression serves you and your career goals. If you need to develop in certain areas, below are some golden rules for finessing your personal brand.
The most powerful personal brands are specific because the narrower your personal brand is, the easier it will be for people to remember who you are. As Adam Smiley Poswolsky, a workplace expert and author, suggests, “Carve a niche, and then carve a niche within your niche. The best personal brands are very specific”. Know your target audience/markets. Who are the key stakeholders, customers, partners, and other key influencers in your company or network who can impact your advancement? Be proactive with them rather than hope or expect them to come to you. Get noticed by being involved in areas where these key players are working. Develop a relationship with them, which will enable you to showcase your brand in action.
Know what you are good at, become an expert, and your reputation will support you in building the brand you want. You need to be genuine because people will see through it if you are not. It also means that it will be easier to manage your personal brand if it is a true reflection of who you are.
What is your professional story? Craft it, then communicate it to your audience so they can engage with it. How did you get here, and where do you want to go? What really matters to you? Once you know the answers to these questions and can communicate this powerfully, people will listen, and they will remember you. Make your words count by speaking in a compelling, understandable, and memorable way to others. Be a person of few words, and say those words as you mean them, with confidence and energy.
The key is to be intentional and consistent about what you’re communicating.
Remember that your brand is revealed in every interaction with others, including meetings, phone calls, emails, presentations, and conversations. You’re communicating something about your brand even when catching the elevator with someone!
Building your personal brand is a lifelong project that constantly evolves and changes. All we ever have is our reputation – that is our brand. So always remember to support others around you by being positive and genuine, making a difference to others by supporting their growth in any way you can.
If you would like support with your career development and as you consider your Personal Brand, please get in touch at info@judeallancareercoach.com.au.