Building your personal brand is about strategically, creatively, and professionally presenting what makes you, you. Knowing who you are and the value you bring to the table enables you to be more informed, agile, and adaptable to the changing dynamic world of work.
There is a perception held by many that a personal brand is ‘cringy” and that only famous people have them – eg the Kardashians. This is not true today. You do have a personal brand right now – it’s just that you have not wrapped your best qualities; strengths, accomplishments and areas where you excel into a “unique package” that makes you stand out!
Your personal brand is not created overnight. It is a process that requires time commitment and accountability. Without these don’t start!
However, if you do decide to go ahead then find a quiet place with no distractions and write down the answers to these 3 questions.
- Why is having a personal brand important to me right now?
- What support will I need on my journey to building my Personal Brand?
- How would I feel in 6 months time if I did not have a personal brand?
This exercise will help you to get clear about your WHY and give you some insight into who you are. Understanding your why is the first step to building your personal brand.
Once you have answered these questions then work out what 3 actions you will commit too to start building your brand. It is important that you set a time frame for these 3 actions to be completed.
There are many resources available on the Internet about how to build personal brand and for some people this is a great place to start. The other option is to find a personal brand coach that can guide you and keep you on track while you are on your journey.
Your personal brand means nothing without “Consistency”.
Creating a personal brand is only the first step on the journey. The next and most important step is committing to bringing your personal brand to the world. Social media is one the best platforms for you to do this. Your digital footprint is the key to you being able to deliver a consistent message about who you are, what you all about and what value you offer to the world. It is in this space that you can truly be you and take control of how you want to be “seen” by the world.
As Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, once said, “Your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room.” With a personal brand and a compelling story to tell, you will know exactly what people say about you when you leave the room – because you are in control!
Kathryn Sandford
Personal Branding Consultant, Managing Director of M2M