Today’s Question: What is a personal brand and do I need one?
I first heard of a personal brand years ago when someone came to speak at a personal development session that I attended. I wasn’t sure what it was and didn’t know if it was important for me to have one. Generally brands are thought of in terms of a company or product. Brands will leverage a commercial jingle, symbols or product design to set themselves apart from their competitors. Coca-Cola, Apple and McDonald’s are some examples that have high brand recognition related to the symbols and products that are integral to their brands.
What do you want to be known for? What do you want people to say about you when they think about you? Do you have a personal brand already? You can gather some feedback from others to understand how you and your reputation are being perceived. Is that the brand you want for yourself or do you want to change it? A positive personal brand is an important way to help you progress in your career more quickly, be seen as a leader and to ensure you have strong credibility.
Here are some questions that you can consider when you think about your brand:
- Are you polished and articulate?
- Are you professional and do you dress professionally?
- Are you credible and trustworthy?
- Are you influential?
- Are you composed during high stress situations?
- Do you have high integrity?
If you want to build relationships, be considered for promotions and be seen as a strong leader you need to look at yourself as a brand. Evaluating the perceptions that people have of you is key to determining if your personal brand is being viewed in a positive way. Remember that this is an on-going process and if you are not managing your brand, then someone else will do it for you.
Do you want to build your own personal brand? Coaching with me can help you focus your efforts to make this happen. Set up time with me to get started! http://susanmbarber.com/schedule-an-appointment/