Your personal brand is what others think of you.
The group (or sometimes, the general public) will define your reputation without you if you don’t take control of it first. But who cares?
Having a strong personal brand unlocks the door for social and professional opportunities. Fortunately, you have influence over your reputation if you’re willing to do the work. Actions speak louder than words.
That being said, here are five ideas for growing your personal brand.
Take care of your digital hygiene
Anytime you have a call on camera, make sure you, and your background, look presentable.
In a remote-first world your digital hygiene – the way you show up on a screen – matters. People notice if your call setup is pleasant or painful. Sometimes it’s out of your control, but don’t take good internet, camera quality, and sound for granted.
Investing in a nice microphone, webcam, and room setup will pay you dividends in opportunities. Be thoughtful about how others see you on screen.
Invest in your wardrobe
You don’t have to chase trends but spend time (and a little money) building outfits that match the vibe you want to give off.
Some people, especially in real estate or finance, have a collection of suits. Silicon Valley tech workers usually feel more at home in a hoody or t-shirt.
Read the room you’re in to decide how you want to fit in or disrupt. Nothing says, “I’m interesting!” like an orange safety suit at a cocktail hour.
Make everything you do look effortless
Produce wins, results, and outcomes frequently and without complaining.
Unfortunately, most people judge you by your recent work. Your track record won’t keep you afloat very long. Be a results-generating machine to stay top of mind.
Rarely reveal the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to show up the way you do. No bragging. No complaining. Constantly talking about “how hard you work” is a turn off.
Overcommunicate like it’s your job
Communication skills are heavily underrated. Any time you spend improving your reading, writing, and speaking abilities is worthwhile.
Build systems that help you:
- Follow up on every request
- Creatively send messages multiple times in multiple ways
- Track paper trails
- Remember personal details of your audience
Overcommunication is an art – if you can learn how to reach your audience you can control the narrative around your reputation.
Go to everything you can
School only values merit. Work teaches you the value of relationships.
You can’t build an outstanding personal brand without both.
Improving your merit is a matter of developing your skills, but relationships require you to go out in the world and do something.
As fun as binge-watching television and scrolling your phone is, spend as much time as you can being in the room with others.
Happy hours.
Conferences.
Lunchtime.
Your net worth, reputation, and opportunities are driven by who you know more than what you know. Resist the urge to stay in or eat at your desk – go to everything you possibly can to expand your network and personally steer your reputation.
After all, if you’re not there, they can say anything they want about you.
You only have one personal brand. If you don’t control it, others will!
Questions? Comments? Haiku? Send me a DM on LinkedIn.