What is a personal brand?
A personal brand doesn’t just apply to influencers or entrepreneurs; it’s your professional identity wherever you work and whatever your role.
Your personal brand is the unique combination of skills, values and qualities that define you as a professional. It goes beyond your job title and qualifications. It’s what you stand for, it’s how others perceive you and, in essence, it’s your reputation.
Why is your personal brand important?
Your personal brand influences how colleagues, leaders and clients perceive you, interact with you and what they come to expect from you. A solid personal brand establishes credibility and gives people confidence in you and your abilities. It can help you attract the right opportunities and helps you to stand out in a crowded job market.
Not only that, having a clear personal brand can build inner confidence in who you are and what you do. It can help you create solid principles and boundaries, which can be especially important through times of change, such as returning from maternity leave, or transitioning into a new role or company.
“Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room” (Jeff Bezos)
5 tips to hone your personal brand:
1. Know your unique value proposition (UVP)
Identify what sets you apart from others. Consider the skills, experience and strengths that make you unique.
2. Define your priorities
What are the things that are most important to you? What values must be present for you? What do you stand for? What gives you purpose?
3. Develop a personal statement
Create a compelling narrative that succinctly illustrates who you are and what you’re about. Use descriptive language that captures who you are. You don’t necessarily need to share this with anyone but it can be helpful to check in and remind yourself of it once in a while.
4. Communicate openly
Demonstrate who you are and what you’re about through open communication. Manage and maintain your personal brand through every social interaction. Consider the way you build relationships and how you present yourself. Think about how you might come across to others.
5. Be authentic
There’s no point curating a personal brand that doesn’t match your true personality. It will come across as disingenuous and people will see right through it. Show up as you say you will and deliver on what you say you will.
If you’d like support to explore your personal brand through coaching contact me via my profile page or take a look at my website to find out more about how we can work together.
February 1, 2024
