personal branding has been around for a long time.
it has been adopted both inadvertently and intentionally for decades now, but is still an under-utilised tool in most professionals approach. whether for professional development and advancement, to support cultural values in an organisation or to project a public persona skyward - personal branding is a strategic tool that is evolving dynamically and more responsibly. we hope.
the value of personal branding is not the development of a trend-centric or inauthentic mirage of the person you would like to be. personal branding has evolved to engage genuine purpose in the storybook of your life, and what you stand for.
personal branding was about image creation. and it still is.
however, there has been a shift in the the way in which a personal brand strategy is both perceived and used. it could be argued that personal branding should always have been used in the context of authenticity - as opposed to the creation of a popular facade. like everything in life - we continue to learn.
value 1. personal branding is a differentiator...
one of the more interesting concepts to evolve from the shift towards authenticity in personal branding is the realisation that in line with our own unique set of human traits and values - strong and accurate communication of our real values can be our competitive advantage (or unique selling proposition). it may well be our edge.
how better to stand out from the crowd - as ourselves. and the early mail is that 'it works'.
value 2. confidence as a by-product...
establishing who you are and what you stand for can be a positive and inspiring process. using a mindset that supports and develops confidence in then sharing who you are internally and outwardly, supports personal growth. seeing the essence of who you are resonate when you are presented to the world via your unique story can be inspiring and a boost for self-confidence.
once you have clarity on who you are and how you choose to present that, it tends to underpin confidence in yourself.
be early to the party.
whilst the concept of personal branding continues to evolve - adoption is still in its infancy. there has been a discernable lag between the early adopters of personal branding tools and the rest of the planet - especially online. whilst the introduction and subsequent uptake of social media platforms has seen a plethora of (unique) participants (often lacking sound strategy), conversely a handful of success stories have been written. those successes are often the individuals who have strategically crafted an authentic message that resonates with their people.
whilst those few already adopting an approach of clear, consistent communication of their values have a head start, its not too late to arm yourself with the right personal branding tools to establish your footprint and improve the likelihood your brand will also resonate with your tribe.
why would you not have a plan or strategy for your brand at this stage when the upside is a point of difference. an honest outlook seems like a great vibe to have.
