Whenever I start a new project, I try to invent a formula or process to make it easier for me to remember the steps needed to complete the project successfully. So, when one of my clients began developing her personal brand, we devised an easy-to-remember formula for her: The ABC’s of Personal Branding.
Articulate – My client wanted to instill a strong and forceful image in the marketplace. In order to ensure strong brand recognition she created a concise value statement. My client is a controller for a for-profit educational organization. She wanted to establish herself as an expert in her field. Her value statement is: I’m a finance professional who develops and implements successful financial processes which have saved our organization $1.75M. I also build strong, collaborative cross functional teams that deliver exceptional results.
Brag – Bragging in this instance is a good thing. You’re not making up big stories about yourself and what you’ve done. You’re restating your accomplishments in a confident way and explaining the value you bring to an organization. Most of us were taught not to talk about yourselves and how good we are. Personal branding requires and encourages bragging. So, my client took on a new attitude. She firmly believes in standing up tall, throwing back her shoulders and being very proud of what she’s achieved. She brags about her contributions…it’s a good thing!
Communicate – Constant and frequent communications is essential to completing your personal branding process. Once my client created her branding message, she chose several channels to let the marketplace know who she is. She chose Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter for her online messages. She also began to incorporate her branding message into her daily conversations. She measures her progress by the number of views she gets online and the number of networking contacts she makes. Her personal brand is becoming well known in her industry.
Ok, now it’s your turn. What are the “ABC’s” for your personal branding process? How can you articulate and brag about your accomplishments? When and where can you communicate your value statement? We’re waiting to hear all about you!
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