Advance Your Career with a Strong Personal Brand: 3 Steps

READ-TIME: 5 MINUTES

Have you ever thought about the importance of your personal brand at work?

Most people think of branding as something for products and companies. But your personal brand is just as crucial.

If you want to move your career up, you need to bridge the gap between what your personal brand should be and what people actually think of you.

Why should you care?

Your actions define your brand. You can't just tell people what your brand is; they have to see it through your actions.

Over the years, I’ve seen people destroy their careers because their personal brand behind closed doors wasn’t great.

The sad news is that no one at corporate will usually tell you how bad your personal brand is.

It’s a topic no one talks about, yet it’s one of the most important factors affecting career development.

I once thought of myself as a strategic and innovative leader, but others saw me as a go-getter who gets things done.

Who you are and what others think of you may not always align. That’s why big companies like Apple, Amazon, and Airbnb work so hard to drill WHO THEY ARE into your brain.

So, how do you build a strong personal brand at work?

Here is how:

Step 1: Define Your Personal Brand

First, define your personal brand. Are you innovative, strategic, or focused on execution?

Choose the brand that aligns best with your career path goals and skills.

Do the homework to identify what your personal brand should be for the jobs you're aiming for.

For example, if your career path is in senior leadership, being seen as strategic and influential is crucial.

You need the people above you to see you as a strategic thinker, which will help them envision you in bigger roles.

Step 2: Promote Your Brand at Every Opportunity

Share your wins and accomplishments with your stakeholders.

You can't just keep your head down, work hard, and put in the hours.

Think like a marketer and look for ways to promote your hard work. Keep people informed about what you do and accomplish.

Don’t rely on others to notice your contributions; take ownership of this one.

Step 3: Monitor Your Brand Perception by Asking for Feedback

Monitor your brand perception by asking for feedback.

The easiest way to identify and monitor your brand is to ask five to ten people to describe you in one or two words. By the time you ask the tenth person, you will know what your brand is.

Do this exercise every 12-18 months. Building a personal brand doesn't happen overnight. Give people time to see your changes and adjust their perceptions accordingly.

Your personal brand is what will defend you behind closed doors.

I’ve seen many people get declined for promotions because they don't have strong personal brands behind closed doors.

The good news is you can build and rebuild your personal brand.

Sometimes, if you have to leave your job or company to help reset, do it.

The last thing you need to do is give up on building the right personal brand.

The most dangerous thing you can do to your career is to stay in one place stuck with a bad personal brand and a culture that doesn't give you the chance to rebuild it.

Ready to take control of your personal brand and boost your career?

Whenever you're ready, here are 4 ways I can help you:

(Course) Advance Your Presentation Skills At Work: Go from anxious to confident presenter and engage your audience in every pitch. Join 1,000+ professionals and executives to transform your presentation skills and boost your career. In this course I will share the exact strategies I used to move from an anxious presenter to a confident speaker in every step of my career growth.
(Book) The Unwritten Rules of Advancing Your Career: In this book, I share 10 critical rules for career advancement that your boss might never mention. These are lessons I learned the hard way, but they have since helped thousands of readers worldwide. Available in over 30 countries, this book could be your guide to climbing the career ladder.
(Book) Entrepreneur vs. Corporate: Choosing between the entrepreneurial path and a corporate career can be daunting. In this book, I explore both worlds to help you determine the best fit for your ambitions. Beyond the simple entrepreneur vs. corporate debate, I introduce essential questions that guide you toward fulfilling your career potential.
Schedule 1:1 Call with Me: Having assisted hundreds in advancing their careers, I am confident in my ability to help you, too. Schedule a personal call with me to take a significant step forward in your career journey.

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