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ARTICLE
Six Tips for Building Your Own Brand
1. Imagine you're creating an ad for yourself.
Think in terms of
your top talents and the value these can provide your company. Play around
with your branding traits, experimenting with different ways to express
them. Imagine you're creating an ad or business card. How can you express
your value in a single, brief statement?
Here are some ideas
to get you started:
" Nothing falls
through the cracks, ever.
" Strong communicator, even stronger results.
" Strategic thinker who's not afraid to get her hands dirty.
" Assign the job to me... consider it done.
" There's no problem I can't solve.
2. Seek opportunities
to demonstrate your value.
Once you create your
brand statement, you can use it as a focal point when communicating your
worth to others. Develop a personal marketing plan. Find opportunities
to demonstrate your style through the type of projects you undertake and
the accomplishments you promote.
3. Your behavior
should reinforce your brand.
This includes the
way you conduct meetings, answer phone calls or respond to emails. Are
you late for appointments? Do you forget to follow up? Oftentimes, it's
the "little things" that can make a difference.
4. "Packaging"
is important, too.
Does your personal
appearance reflect positively on your brand and the attributes you want
to promote?
5. Constantly seek
feedback.
Brand name corporations
conduct market research to see if they're living up to their customers'
expectations. So should you. Probe for feedback from clients and associates
about the personal traits you want to emphasize and showcase. Work with
your supervisor to include your brand attributes in your performance appraisal.
6. Periodically
evaluate your brand.
Brand name corporations
constantly evolve. So do individuals. At least once a year (some experts
recommend every six months) take the time to assess how you're doing on
living up to your personal brand and what, if anything, needs to change.
You may have developed new skills, interests or capabilities. Does your
brand reflect who you are today and how you want to be perceived and valued
as your career progresses?
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