Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room. It’s the collection of words that describe your high points, your unique selling proposition, and your passions. It’s what makes you, you – and what sets you apart from the competition.
A strong personal brand can help you achieve success in your career. It’s the art of standing out and being known for something. Creating and maintaining a personal brand is not egotistical – it’s smart business. In a job market where competition is fierce, a personal brand can give you the edge you need to succeed.
Creating a strong personal brand can help you reach your professional goals, but it's not always easy to do. Here are five tips to help you build a successful personal brand in the workplace:
#1 Pick 3 adjectives "What you want to be known for?"
When it comes to your brand, it's important to be clear about the 3 adjectives you want to be known for. To be known for these three qualities, make sure that they are evident in everything you do, from the way you market yourself to the way you deliver. Be consistent in your messaging and make sure that your actions always reflect these three qualities. These 3 adjectives will be the foundation of your brand and will help you attract the right opportunities and people into your life.
Let's say, for example, you're a web developer. You might want to be known as an innovative, creative problem-solver. Or if you're a salesperson, you might want to be known as a persuasive, driven go-getter. Do you want to be known as the go-to expert in your field? Or maybe you want to be known for being a great leader. Whatever it is, choose three adjectives that describe your goals and make sure that everything you do supports those goals.
Some examples of adjectives you could choose:
- Passionate
- Driven
- Creative
- Innovative
- Expert
- Leader
So what are the 3 adjectives you want to be known for? Take some time to think about it. Your adjectives don't have to be directly related to your job, but they should be qualities that will make you stand out in the job market. These 3 adjectives will be the foundation of your brand and will help you attract the right opportunities and people into your life. Remember, your brand is what sets you apart from the rest, so make sure you choose words that you're proud of.
#2 Be intentional and consistent with demonstrating your brand to others
Building and maintaining a personal brand can feel like a daunting task. You are managing how you want to be seen by others, which can be a full-time job in and of itself. The most important thing to remember is to be intentional and consistent with demonstrating your brand to others.
How you demonstrate your brand will depend on what you want people to know about your brand. Do you want to be known for your quality of work? Then make sure the work you put out is high quality and consistent. Do you want to be known for amazing customer service? Then make sure every interaction your customers have with you is positive and helpful.
This means being clear about what your values are and making sure that they are reflected in everything you do - from the language you use, to the way you look, to the way you interact with others. If you're not intentional and consistent with your brand, people will quickly forget about you.
So whatever it is you want to be known for (see Tip#1), make sure your actions always reflect that. Over time, people will start to see your brand in the way you want them to.
#3 Develop key relationships to build ambassadors of your personal brand
To build a strong personal brand, you need to develop key relationships with people who can speak positively about you and your work. These people can act as ambassadors for your brand, spreading the word about your skills and abilities. Building these key relationships takes time and effort, but it is worth it if you want to build a strong personal brand. You will want to both develop new relationships and deepen your existing relationships.
To develop key relationships, start by reaching out to people who you admire and respect. These can be people who are leaders in your industry, people who have achieved success in their field, or people who have done something you aspire to do. Once you have a list of potential people to reach out to, reach out and introduce yourself including your background & experience but most importantly your brand. Share your story and your vision for your career, and ask if they would be interested in connecting further. If they are, great! If not, don't take it personally and move on to the next person on your list.
To deepen your existing relationships regularly set time to check in and share your success, ask for advice or just listen. It's easy to get distracted but this is critical to set aside time to deepen your relationships and further strengthen your brand.
#4 Check in with your network to fine-tune your brand
Your network is made up of the people who know you best and can give you honest feedback about your brand. They can help you fine-tune your brand so that it truly reflects who you are and what you're all about.
To make sure your personal brand is on point, it's important to check in with your network regularly. Ask your friends, family, and colleagues what they think of your brand, and take their feedback to heart. If they think you're headed in the right direction, great! If they have suggestions on how you can improve, take their advice.
Once you've gathered all of this feedback, you can start to make changes to your brand. Remember, your goal is to create a brand that is authentic and true to who you are. So don't be afraid to experiment until you find the perfect fit.
So don't be afraid to reach out to your network and ask for their help in perfecting your brand.
#5 Be a high performer
It's not enough to just manage the perception that you're awesome, you also need to be awesome at your job - if you want to really excel in your role, you need to be considered a high performer. This means going the extra mile on every project, task, or assignment you're given. It means being creative and thinking outside the box. And it means always putting your best foot forward, no matter what the situation.
Whether it's coming up with new ideas, finding new ways to solve problems, or simply giving 110% on every task, you need to go above and beyond to excel in your role. There are a few key things that you can do to set yourself up for success:
Be a team player. Go out of your way to help your team members and contribute to team projects.
Be proactive. Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do - take initiative and get things done.
Be innovative. Think outside the box and come up with new ideas that can help your team or company succeed.
Be passionate. Show your enthusiasm for your work and let it shine through in everything you do.
Be dedicated. Put in the extra time and effort to really master your craft.
Going above and beyond will set you apart from the rest and make you an indispensable member of the team. The path to becoming a high performer is not always easy, but if you can commit to these three things, you will be well on your way to becoming a high performer. There is no magic formula for success, but with dedication and hard work, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
The tips in this article will help you build your brand and grow your professional network. For more tips and advice, be sure to listen to our podcast.
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