Manager of “Everything” Marketing, Allegis Group Services As an experienced marketer and global events planner, Sonia has over 15 years of experience within the human capital and workforce management industry. Throughout...
You love your job....right? There is nothing you wouldn't do to ensure that your company's brand is positively reflected at every client or customer touch point ….right? Well, how often do you ensure that your "personal brand" is kept to the same level of integrity? Hmmmm…you're pondering that thought, aren't you!
A personal brand is what carves out your special place in the workplace. You need to own both your "skill set" and reputation. Let them both shine. Building a personal brand is about going beyond your everyday duties and really pursuing and excelling in what you are passionate about. This passion comes out naturally and you will truly get noticed for what you do best!
So you now ask yourself, "how do I create a personal brand"? Using the Internet to research tips is a great start. Dan Schawbel, owner of the Personal Branding Blog, and his network of engaged personal branding experts, share great ideas on how to learn more about yourself and how your passions make your personal brand. I have especially enjoyed and found their tips helpful in making myself more marketable.
How do you "market" yourself? Although, I do agree with a lot of what Dan has to say, but for me personally, I march to a different drum.
Here are 5 ways to create a personal brand all your own that is truly marketable in any job:
1. Be Yourself:Let's face it, 90% of your life is spent with those you work with. Just be yourself, don't hide it….embrace it! And if you're not really sure how to be yourself, check out this article by clicking here.
2. Be Impeccable With Your Word:This tip comes from one of my favorite books by Dr. don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements. It is based on Toltec beliefs and gives four principles to practice in order to create love and happiness in your life. The very first agreement is: Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love. Practicing this agreement when branding and marketing yourself can be quite uplifting. Michael Hyatt, publisher of an outstanding blog on leadership philosophy, recently wrote an article on how simply changing your vocabulary from "the (negative) language of duty to the (positive) language of privilege."It makes a huge difference in how you view yourself and, importantly, how others view you.
3. Don't Have People Fear You, Let Them Be Fond Of You:I learned this saying from one of my mentors as he was explaining how to be a better person in general. Which makes total sense, right? When you are kind and giving of yourself, people will respect you for that trait.
4. Don't Be Afraid To Go Beyond Your Comfort Zone:When we go beyond our comfort zone and try new things, we grow! Facing your fears and letting yourself grow is vastly important when creating your personal brand. You allow yourself to create new skills and become more valuable to your peers. Check out this article and learn how to Expand Your Comfort Zone.
5. Dig In Deep And Get More Involved: You are probably saying to yourself, "WHAT???....I already work 60 hours a week, how could I possibly get MORE INVOLVED?" Getting more involved in groups and associations at work is vital to boosting your career to the next level. You don't have to be a "type A" personality to accomplish this; you just have to WANT it bad enough. Volunteering for different extracurricular projects will show how dedicated you are and will give your "skill set" some great exposure. Get involved in activities or projects that you are passionate about that you don't get to do in your everyday job, like the Diversity group, or Woman's Leadership, or planning community activities for your co-workers. Any bit of extra involvement will mold the person that you are and will give an extra spin to your Personal Brand!
Have you had success in projecting your personal brand to your boss, colleagues or clients? If so, please share your tips in the comments below!