Create a Personal Branding Strategy
We live in a society where being shallow is discouraged. You’ve probably heard advice like “never judge a book by its cover, ” and “don’t waste your time focusing on how you look.”
You might feel that how you dress in a job interview shouldn’t matter. After all, you should be judged by your experience and the content of what you say.
However, while the world constantly discourages us from trying too hard to look good, it also punishes us for not presenting ourselves well. It’s confusing.
Why your personal brand is important
Since we are wired to judge people on appearance, investing in presentation is your best tool for success!
Having an off day isn’t the end of the world, but it should be just that… an “off day.” The consistent ways that you show up will shape the way you’re perceived, helping you look, feel, and act your best.
Furthermore, your personal brand can help you grow your career, get promotions, and enhance your personal relationships. Consider this: your visual appearance quickly establishes who you are and reinforces your actions. That helps you build trustworthiness faster, eliminating confusion about who you are.
“70% of hiring managers say that a strong personal brand is more important than a strong resume.” - LinkedIn
How to create a personal brand
Do not feel discouraged if this is the first time you’ve considered personal branding. You can shape your presence in 5 easy steps and see direct results in how you’re treated.
1. Determine how you’d like to be perceived
First, think about who you want to be and how you’d describe that person. Pick three phrases or adjectives to summarize. For example:
Health nut
Outdoorsy adventure seeker
Polished and professional
Even though some of these descriptors aren’t tied to work, you should reinforce them at work to help people understand you. Only discussing your job keeps you an office mystery (which could make you less personable and trustworthy).
Likewise, carry your work descriptors into your personal life to give people added context.
2. Improve your digital presence
Take a look at your social media profiles and company avatars. How much effort have you put into these (if any)? Your digital presence is a cheap and easy win.
Here are some tips to improve:
Use clear pictures facing directly toward the camera. Try experimenting with AI tools to edit your photos and give you some options.
Add banner pictures that are relevant to your descriptors. If your brand is outdoorsy, use a picture from a recent hiking trip.
If you use Zoom or some sort of video calls during work, make sure your background conveys your personal brand. Display pictures, certifications, or interesting items related to your image. Make sure your default image (avatar) is complete as well.
3. Improve your in-person presence
The way you look, dress, and move speaks volumes. But people shy from giving advice in these areas because it’s inappropriate.
Here are some ways to visually elevate your appearance and define your personal style:
Take care of your nails (cuticle care is more important than polish!) and hair. These details go much further than your clothes.
Use open-palmed gestures and slow movements.
Speak clearly and slowly with a smooth voice.
Smile and use good posture.
Added bonus: use wardrobe building techniques to effortlessly assemble outfits.
Choose clothes that make you feel good and reinforce your brand. Wear a bracelet full of charms that reflect your hobbies. Carry a water bottle covered in stickers that say something about you.
4. Discuss interesting facts and topics
Part of appearing personally and professionally polished is being adept at small talk. If that’s not your thing, try having some talking points ready to go and incorporate them.
Here are some examples of talking points related to your personal brand:
Health nut: how you spent the weekend trying new smoothie recipes, healthy recipes and websites you love, or your favorite ways to work out.
Outdoorsy adventure seeker: your top 3 trip recommendations for outdoorsy people, how you go camping frequently, or a new water bottle you’re loving.
Polished and professional: an industry trend you’re hearing about, a conference you want to go to, or a webinar or interesting article you consumed.
By regularly weaving these details into your conversations, you’ll eventually find and talk about these topics out of habit.
5. Treat yourself with love and respect
Maybe this tip isn’t directly in line with your personal brand, but the way others treat you mirrors how you treat yourself. AKA - treat yourself like a superstar to gain respect from surrounding people.
Imagine this: a coworker comes to a call speaking about how they’re too tired to be on camera and are mad at themselves for their most recent failure. They complain they’ll spend the rest of the week working late to correct it.
Would you trust this person with new projects and team leadership?
Now, imagine this: the same coworker is well-dressed and puts on a brave face. They show up on camera and talk about something they’re looking forward to this weekend after a rough failed project. They briefly mention how they’ll experiment with a new solution after taking the weekend to determine plan B.
In either example, the person could be having the same off day. But the way they treat themselves makes all the difference.
If possible, focus on:
Getting enough sleep
Exercise and healthy meals
Setting boundaries
Incorporating positive self talk
These self-care habits will naturally translate to everything you say and do.
Start your personal branding strategy
In summary, craft your personal brand by focusing on:
Who you’d like to become
Visuals (in-person and digitally)
How you speak and topics you discuss
How you treat yourself
It takes some research, planning, and soul-searching to build your personal brand. It might feel uncomfortable to dig deep and establish your starting point. But that’s okay - changes are easy to implement once you build a plan of action.
Remember that most people are not building personal brand strategies, and in doing so you’re setting yourself apart! Best of luck.
