Everyone has a personal brand. It’s either an intentional brand that a person consciously develops and maintains or a brand that others create through interactions with the individual. That was one of my big take-aways from “Wi5P Presents: Unlocking the Power of Your Personal Brand,” a webinar I attended this week, sponsored by Women in the 5P Industries. In other words, you have a reputation, whether you think you do or not. Every person who you encounter creates an opinion of you. At a time when organizations are really concerned about reputation management, it makes sense to be concerned about your personal reputation, too.
Be Open to New Opportunities
In business settings, I hope that people see me as an accomplished business owner who is outgoing and confident. After all, I am the Wonder Writer! Once a mild-mannered reporter and editor, I took on the persona of my alter ego, Wonder Writer, to launch Writer to the Rescue https://writertotherescue.com/ in 2017. My super identity gives me the self-assurance I need to be more sociable and open to new opportunities.
Be Intentional About Your Personal Brand
I’m an introvert at heart. Sometimes, it takes me a while to warm up to a person or a situation, so I’m overly quiet. I grew up with four older sisters, and I married a man who’s an extrovert, so I always have had someone else to speak for me. Although I often feel comfortable remaining in the background, I realize that I have to speak for myself. Otherwise, I might seem disinterested or unfriendly to other people. Unfortunately, unless I’m mindful of this, I don’t always make a good first impression. The webinar this week reminded me to be intentional about the way I present myself.
Be Your Most Authentic Self
Your personal brand is your core foundation and most authentic self. Presenter Amanda Miceli, “Camanda in Chief” of the Bold Marketing Agency used an umbrella to illustrate personal brand. Personal and professional traits are under that one umbrella. So, a personal brand is more than what you do for a living. It’s also your family, hobbies, outward appearance, social media posts, values, and everything else that makes you who you are.
Develop a Personal Mission Statement
She encouraged us to develop a personal mission statement to act as the compass from which all parts of life flow. A personal mission statement helps us define who we are and decide when to say yes and when to say no to various opportunities. Amanda encouraged us to share pieces of this statement with people when we meet them for the first time.
Commit to Consistent Online Interaction
She also encouraged us to let our personal mission statement guide our online interactions on platforms like LinkedIn. Our personal brand shapes the way we describe client successes or conversations we have on the job. It also guides us when we share our point of view in posts and blogs. Although “thought leadership” seemed too highfalutin for me, I liked how she emphasized storytelling in online interaction. She advised us to tell stories about what we do day-to-day to move forward in life and in work. Most importantly, we need to be consistent. Commit to a digestible amount of online interaction and be consistent, Amanda said.
Focus on Who You Are
When I opened Writer to the Rescue, I created a vision and mission statement. I also wrote several different professional bios, but I haven’t written a personal brand statement yet. That’s the next step. I want to create a personal brand by summing up who I am and why I was put on this Earth. Amanda got me thinking when she said, “What feels good to you? What do you want to bring to life?” and “Be authentic. Focus on who you are.”
Thanks to Camanda, Wi5P and GBIG
Thanks to The Camanda in Chief for the interesting insights and to the professional organizations, Women in the 5P Industries and Green Bay Innovation Group, for presenting the webinar. The event unlocked the power of branding in a new way for me. Thank you!
