A personal brand is not about posting what you had for lunch on social media.
Personal branding is not about spin. Or about bragging. Thank goodness.
Personal branding starts by recognizing you have a reputation and influence, and the power to leverage that influence to get people to move in a particular direction.
Savvy leaders understand that personal branding is about communicating who they are and what they are working towards – authentically and consistently through every means possible — to build momentum.
As an executive, you know what I’m talking about. Your company has invested in creating a distinct brand. That brand and what it represents are a key reason your customers choose you and stick with you.
And as a leader, you know who your important audiences are — industry peers, customers, employees, investors, partners, maybe the media. These people matter. You want them to come, to follow, and to stay. And you want them to bring you relevant opportunities, like board roles.
So, you need to be communicating with them — all of them, all the time.
A powerful personal brand does just that and so much more. Consider these additional benefits:
Control the Narrative
You already have a brand. Even if you haven’t focused on branding, people have formed impressions and judgments about you. They see what you do and say, what others say about you, and just as importantly, what you don’t say — and they respond accordingly.
But without your intentional input and direction, the story is rarely 100% accurate.
Doesn’t it make sense to share your perspective and aspirations, motivations and goals, milestones, and even struggles, so that people form an accurate picture of what you’re doing and why?
Connect with Your People
When you build your personal brand intentionally, it becomes an asset. Your perspective, motivations, and goals not only clarify who you are, they also invite people to join you on the journey. Other people get excited about what you’re doing and want to be part of it.
As people better understand who you are, you attract more people who are a fit – customers, partners, investors, and employees. You also waste less time filtering out the people who are not a fit.
Build Credibility & Loyalty
With a powerful personal brand, people feel like they know who you are and what you stand for — before they meet you. In some ways, their relationship with you starts before they ever meet you.
As a result, they not only come to meetings better prepared, but you are able to build trust faster. All kinds of deals and agreements become easier to close.
And when you need to make decisions that aren’t popular, people will handle the news better. Because they feel like they understand the reasons — and the person — behind it.
Boost the Business
Simon Sinek was right when he said, “We don’t do business with companies. We do business with people. Business is always human.”
Humans like to know the humans behind businesses. And they like to do business with companies that are run by people who are knowable and likable.
Make Your Personal Brand Work for You
As I said earlier, you have a brand. It’s just a question of whether it’s helping you get where you want to go — or slowing you down. Don’t waste your influence and don’t underestimate it either. There’s no better time than now to clarify and craft the story you want out there — and to use it to get to your goals faster.
If you’d like to talk about how to get started — or go further — contact me on LinkedIn, at [email protected], or book a quick call.