Guest post by Jake Blocker
When looking for growth in your career, self-reflection is a must. One of the greatest practices of self-reflection is analyzing your brand, or personal branding. What does your brand say about you? Is it unique and memorable? Does it present value and trustworthiness?
When you make an effort to reflect, refine and improve your brand, it can help propel you to the next level. Use each of these practices throughout your personal branding process for short-term and long-term career success.
Analyze your vision
During your personal branding process, you should have an idea of the brand you wish to have. For this, there are a few important questions you must ask yourself:
What are your greatest talents? What are your non-negotiable values? What is your mission/purpose statement? What is your value proposition? What is unique about you, and therefore your brand? What is at least one “walk on water” story you can tell to show people that you and your brand really does stand out?
Determine your value proposition and how it affects your operations, then use
this to build your vision.
Focus on Authenticity
What is the perception of your brand? Ask five people about your brand and note their response. That will provide you with a clear picture of your brand’s perception. Next, compare your brand’s perception to the brand you wish to have, then create a list of what must change to match your perceived brand to your desired brand.
This speaks directly to authenticity. How unique is your perceived brand and how unique is your desired brand? An important element in branding is originality. What makes you stand out?
Build a Lasting Impression
Defining your talents and all that makes you unique is vital to personal branding, but the goal should be to use those talents and skills to create positive and lasting impressions. Hone in on the most effective attributes you already have and can build on, then consider any new attributes that can further this.
Proper messaging can help you convey the value of your brand and build those lasting impressions. Messaging such as “I help X get to Y” and “I am an expert at X, which brings Y value to people” are examples of excellent hooks for building those impressions.
The Primary Focus
Always remember the primary focus of branding. The problem you solve, the benefits you or your solution brings, why you are unique, proof, and (if appropriate) a call to action are the key elements of what your brand represents.
Coaching will help build a plan to refine your authentic brand short-term, and long-term, helping create the best possible image for you and your brand.
Jake Blocker is a communication expert, with a primary focus in developing more balanced, cohesive, and productive work environments where people truly thrive. Jake uses his writing to help professionals find balance in their careers with the use of proper communication techniques, practices, and philosophy.
