Want To Stand Out? Develop Your Personal Brand.

What’s your brand? Not your favorite brand, like Apple or Toyota. What is YOUR brand? Everyone should have one, starting at any age. “Personal branding is not just about designing “packaging” for yourself or selling yourself as something you are not. Your personal brand is your reputation,” says my friend, Lida Citroen, Author of Reputation 360.

You do not have to be looking for a new position. Do this while you’re in your current position and you’ll see some magic happen. Your boss will take notice. Employees will hear you more clearly.

Before you get started, the most important thing is to be authentic. Don't try to be someone you are not.

Articulate Your Personal Values: What do you stand for? What drives you? Your values help you make decisions, provide focus and motivation. Write them down.

Identify Your “Top 3”: What are the top three things you want team members to say about you? The same top three things that clients feel when you’re working with you? The same top three things that upper management sees you doing? Write them down.

Write Your Brand Statement: After you’ve given these ideas a “test drive”, develop your personal brand statement in present tense. This is that phrase that you want to be known for. Write it down and keep it somewhere that you can see.

Align and Reflect: As you’re interacting with others via Zoom, in-person, via email and text, and social media, make sure that you continue to reflect your values and the things you want people to know you for.

Take 2 more minutes to read this article from Fast Company Why Personal Branding Is Essential To Career Success….”Creating a strong brand establishes yourself as a natural leader, making people look up to you as a firm thought leader.”