Personal Brand Value

“A brand’s value is a financial representation of a business’s earnings due to the superior demand created for its products and services through the strength of its brand.” Interbrand Corp. When it comes to your personal brand, your value is harder to measure and is far more subjective. Your job is to help others see the value that you bring by having a realistic sense of what it is based on objective input, context, demand and remuneration. Here’s what I mean: • Context – You need to learn the condition under which your attributes are best deployed. I don’t know about you, but I’ve worked in places where the organization and I ceased to be compatible. My skills were not completely valued. In one case it was company culture; I knew I would not move up to the level I wanted. In another it was the company strategy that I Learn more...

Personal Branding – Image Management

Managing your image is a critical part of establishing and maintaining your personal brand. There is surely no substitute for content or the ingredients of your brand, but if the packaging isn’t right, you won’t get a second look. Here are the elements that constitute your image – and remember, you never know when someone is watching so, whether at the grocery store or a conference, make your mother proud: • Appearance – Impressions are formed in seconds, not minutes. Your clothing, hair and grooming tell someone much about how you see yourself. Understand the environment you are operating in and stay within the boundaries of appropriateness. Know what “business casual” means in Des Moines versus Florida or at a software firm versus an investment bank, as examples. It doesn’t take a lot of money to present yourself professionally. Clothing and shoes must fit and should be in good repair; Learn more...

How to Change Your Reputation

• Visibility – Sometimes not having left any impression is a bad impression. Even if you are an introvert, find ways to make yourself known. Don’t force it or you won’t be convincing. But if, for example, you are great with numbers but don’t like to the limelight, offer to be the analyst for a project or finance person for a committee or project. Attend conferences and if you are senior and credible enough, offer to moderate or serve on a panel to let people see how knowledgeable you are on your subject matter. • Messaging – Words are powerful, having said that, actions can speak louder than words. Make sure you are conveying the right messages about the 3-C’s – credibility, capability and commitment. Prepare your personal branding statement, your elevator pitch – whatever you want to call it – and be consistent with everyone you meet. Walk the Learn more...

How do you know your reputation?

• How might you determine what is said behind your back? You ask trusted sources, first friends and co-workers who care about you and can be honest. Ask colleagues for “in the moment” assessments after a meeting or presentation. When you are asked, provide constructive, thoughtful and objective feedback to others; this paves the way for them to do the same for you. • Leverage formal performance review processes to dig deeper than what might be offered. In addition to your direct supervisor, seek input from sponsors, mentors and advisors, both internal and external to your company or group. • Consider the source. There are “haters” out there who will be ultra-critical because they don’t like you or secretly want to see you fail. There are also those who just won’t get you. Go with the law of averages and take the prevailing commentary to heart – good or bad.

Personal Branding – Reputation

“Your reputation precedes you!” This is true, for better or for worse. Sometimes people won’t be so gracious as to tell you when you have a “bad rep” as when it’s glowing. There are 3 Must-haves when building a reputation: • Credibility – People need to know you are trustworthy, have good judgment and are responsible. It can be the little things like not being punctual or not responding to voicemails or e-mails in a timely fashion that can undermine your credibility by suggesting you don’t manage time well, are disorganized or are dismissive. My old firm had an unwritten rule that you always get back to a fellow colleague within 24 hours if at all possible. It really often is honoring spoken and unspoken rules. • Capability – This is the horsepower to get the job done; it’s “what’s between your ears”! Subject matter expertise is always valued, but Learn more...

Personal Branding – Your Reality

• Experiences – This is where many people start and stop. Recounting the jobs you have had is only the beginning. To me, it feels like snap shots in time that tell only part of your story. Learn how to weave a (true) story that links one discreet job to another with insight into why and how you made decisions about your choices. • Competencies – With a description of your skills, knowledge and capabilities we are starting to tell a story, but it’s like watching a black and white movie. You have to be able to distill what you are really good and how you go about doing things. Offer context, that is, preferences for and exposure to certain kinds of situations and circumstances that provide dimension and interest to your movie. • Achievements – Now the movie is colorized with the successes and “lessons” you have had. Be Learn more...

Personal Branding

Personal branding … “is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands. The personal branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging. Further defined as the creation of an asset that pertains to a particular person or individual; this includes but is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable. The term is thought to have been first used and discussed in a 1997 article by Tom Peters.” Source: Wikipedia I don’t necessarily agree with everything in the description for personal branding stated above, but it is the irrefutable truth is that having a “brand” in the business world is critical whether you want to call it a brand or not. I take issue with the notion that it is all about packaging. I’d like to think that business professionals won’t be duped by Learn more...