Personal Branding That Starts With Purpose
Julian here! It’s been a busy few days, but delighted to find the time to jot down a few ideas here about personal branding..
Over the last months, I’ve been working with some of my clients around this topic. A big question here is:
How do I want people to see me when they form their first impressions of me in meetings, in person or online, and in the way you communicate?
When we get busy in our work and private lives, it’s easy to forget what makes you different from the crowd. For example, we all have rooted beliefs and values related to related to how we make money, build relationships, work, the environment, etc.
The point here is, whether we like it or not, people will form impressions of you that are beyond our own control, so why not take the time to align what we believe in to how we show up each day?
Why I believe authenticity is the crucial ingrediant
When I first moved to Brazil over 10 years ago, I had to reinvent myself and my work.
My legal credentials and experience only got me so far. It was something else that helped me find new work opportunities and make new connections. But what I learned helped the most was talking to the people around me about why I was here, what mattered to me, and how I specifically could add value for them.
Perhaps, as a foreigner in a new work environment and still learning a new language, without the usual cultural confines, showing up like this came a bit easier. I was already coming from a different place, with different skills and experiences, so maybe I didn’t feel the same cultural and environmental pressures to keep my head down and blend in with my peers ion the legal world.
Today, as a result of this experience, I strongly believe a personal brand based on your purpose and values will help you go much further in your work and in your lives (remember, these 2 aspects, life and work, will always be a balancing act). Taking this approach will help you excel in interviews, leadership roles, and client meetings, and will build trust with the people you are dealing with and who know you.
Personal Brand Canvas
An exercise I often use in coaching sessions is to help clients develop a Personal Brand Canvas. This is like a roadmap for uncovering what really drives you and how you want to be seen.
It asks simple but powerful questions:
- Who am I, and what values do I stand for?
- What makes me unique?
- Who is my real audience?
- How do I want to be perceived?
- What proof do I have to back it up?
When clients take the time to reflect and work through these questions, they start to see their career and communication in a new light. They put in the work of making sure their brand reflects what matters to them, as well as working through aspects of their profile, and the habits that they want to change looking forward.
It’s about personal growth
Last but certainly not least, aligning your actions and goals with your personal values can help prevent burnout since fostering a sense of purpose, motivation, and authenticity, is proven to reduce stress and inner conflict.
If this resonates, I’d love to hear from you:
What do you want people to see when they see you?
And if you’re curious about working on your own Personal Brand Canvas, let’s grab a coffee (real or virtual). It’s a great place to start.
Until next time, take care!