People need to assume more responsibility for their working lives," explains Kelly's Managing Director: Lawrence Wordon. "You may not realise it, but you have a brand, and you need to take control of that brand. It is up to you to either build ‘Brand Me' up and capitalise on it, or to do nothing and accept whatever life dishes out."
Just like a company, an individual needs to invest in his or her brand, positioning themselves to emphasise their strengths and minimise their weaknesses. Deciding on how they want to present themselves is the first major challenge to establishing a personal brand, as Wordon explains: "You must have control over your brand because your brand is what differentiates you in the marketplace. It is important that your brand is authentic; that it has as its foundation personality traits; interests, talents and experience that belong to you. You need to be able to live your brand, because if you don't, you will appear to be insincere and unprofessional. But it is equally as important to ascertain what it is about you that sets you apart from the pack."
Wordon advises that people take time out to conduct a self-inventory to work out what ‘Brand Me' is, "Step back and view yourself as an exciting new product, and undertake a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. Not only do you need to establish your strengths and weaknesses, you also need to establish what your passions are, what it is about you that people admire or even dislike about you, where your past successes lie, and what fulfils you in order to create a genuine brand that you can live up to." Wordon adds that aligning yourself with somebody you admire and respect - seeking out a mentor - within the company or even external would also be beneficial.
Building and communicating a personal brand may at first appear daunting, but there are some simple steps that can be taken to get ‘Brand Me' known.
Be A Team Player: Make your mark by being a team player. Conveying your eagerness to be a part of the team will help breakdown any possible barriers and in turn you can begin laying the foundation for deeper emotional connections, something that is not only necessary but vital to your success in building ‘brand me'.
Dress for Success: It is important to dress appropriately every day. A neat appearance instils confidence in your employer and shows you take care of yourself ersonally and professionally. As a rule, dress conservatively and business like rather than too casual.
The 'Can-Do' Man: Grab every opportunity to shine. Volunteer for tasks no one else is prepared to do (provided they don't interfere with your normal day-to-day activities). Be known as the one who is always willing. Your ‘can-do' attitude will show both your colleagues and your employer that you mean business and it is a great way to sell yourself.
Network Outside Of Work: You can go online to LinkedIn, the professional networking website, and build up a profile. Ask previous bosses, colleagues or customers to post a recommendation. Provide a detailed job description of current and past positions so that potential employers understand your capabilities. If you are on FaceBook, keep a modest profile and keep it in line with your brand, after all, many employers starting a due diligence will look at your FaceBook profile.
Take the reins and consciously guide your working career; the rewards will be significant, concludes Wordon. "In today's competitive work environment, work unfortunately does not always speak for itself. You need to start selling yourself in the right context and in the right manner to get a promotion."
Source: Kelly
