Personal branding

People are more interested in your emotions, you as a human, not the company you stand for and represent. People want to know what you stand for. A lot of us have never been fans of blowing our own trumpet or blowing smoke up our own you know what.  But if we don’t do it, who will?

Yes, we all tire of those people who brag or self-promote at work. But then again if no one else knows about our accomplishments, then those accomplishments don’t really count for much.  Your work does not always speak for itself, sometimes you have to literally speak for it. All that hard work, the quality of it and the subsequent impact of it might not be so obvious to those not taking any notice.

We all know the effect positive PR has on the growth and positive trajectory of products and services.  So what’s wrong with a bit of positive internal PR? Absolutely nothing!  There is nothing wrong with creating some internal PR about yourself!  What’s the worst that can happen?  You create your own personal brand and a career trajectory for yourself!

Personal branding is no longer just for celebrities. Personal branding allows you to differentiate yourself and make a personal impact whilst establishing and reinforcing who you are and what you stand for in your career and life.

So how do you promote your personal brand?  Engage in projects, roles or initiatives that strengthen your desired identity. Your personal brand needs to evolve at certain points in your career or it will hold you back.

Consider internal networking and relationship-building to build your personal brand. Speak to people beyond your immediate team. Become a household name amongst your colleagues.  Become an expert within your area and share this knowledge, thereby reinforcing your domain expertise.

Engage in discussions on relevant social media boards such as LinkedIn or relevant Facebook groups.

And remember, if you don’t define your personal brand, others will. Ever wonder where that misconception about you came from?!