When you think about “brands” what comes to mind? Your favourite pair of jeans from True Religion or Levi’s? Or do you think about how much of an apple fan you are versus Android (confession, I am a mega apple fan). When we think about the brands in our lives we might all agree that we feel an emotion, perhaps we feel how much we like those products or we think how we dislike those products. When we look at a specific logo of a successful brand we know exactly what we are getting from them and likely, we understand the company’s purpose or value.
People also have a brand. Think of some popular celebrities and use the same context above, Venus and Serena Williams = Tennis Superstars, Bill Gates = Wealth and Philanthropy, Mother Theresa = Humanitarian. On the flipside if we think of other celebrities that have a tarnished past, different thoughts come to mind, Lance Armstrong? Tiger Woods? Whitney Houston?
Think of the people in your life, your friends, colleagues, leaders. They each have their own personal brand, what is it? Is it authentic or real? Or is it supportive? Comedic? Brave? Or is it loud? Mean? Not trustworthy? Or maybe even political? When you think of your personal brand, what value or standard would you want to be held to? And what would you want others to say if they were asked to define your brand.
I chose to write about the topic of personal brands because I have been coaching a lot of leaders lately and like companies, people can and will make mistakes. When I am speaking with a leader who had an altercation, difficult situation or faced a challenge at work my question to them is “were you on brand?” If their brand is to be “calm cool and collected” and yet in recent meeting they were “on fire, loud and judgmental” then they have fallen off brand. This can happen to the best of us, like companies it is up to us to pick ourselves up, dust off our knees and ask ourselves two questions.
“Was I on brand?”
“What do I need to do to get BACK on brand?”
So, take sometime and think about how you want your personal brand defined, and then define it. Write it down and keep it on the front of your mind. When faced with challenging situations remember back to what your personal brand is “Honest Heather” or “Calm Chad”. If at any time someone provides you with constructive feedback this is your opportunity to self-evaluate and avoid the temptation to get defensive.
Enjoy developing your own brand.
Jeff (To Inspire, Motivate and Develop Others)
People also have a brand. Think of some popular celebrities and use the same context above, Venus and Serena Williams = Tennis Superstars, Bill Gates = Wealth and Philanthropy, Mother Theresa = Humanitarian. On the flipside if we think of other celebrities that have a tarnished past, different thoughts come to mind, Lance Armstrong? Tiger Woods? Whitney Houston?
Think of the people in your life, your friends, colleagues, leaders. They each have their own personal brand, what is it? Is it authentic or real? Or is it supportive? Comedic? Brave? Or is it loud? Mean? Not trustworthy? Or maybe even political? When you think of your personal brand, what value or standard would you want to be held to? And what would you want others to say if they were asked to define your brand.
I chose to write about the topic of personal brands because I have been coaching a lot of leaders lately and like companies, people can and will make mistakes. When I am speaking with a leader who had an altercation, difficult situation or faced a challenge at work my question to them is “were you on brand?” If their brand is to be “calm cool and collected” and yet in recent meeting they were “on fire, loud and judgmental” then they have fallen off brand. This can happen to the best of us, like companies it is up to us to pick ourselves up, dust off our knees and ask ourselves two questions.
“Was I on brand?”
“What do I need to do to get BACK on brand?”
So, take sometime and think about how you want your personal brand defined, and then define it. Write it down and keep it on the front of your mind. When faced with challenging situations remember back to what your personal brand is “Honest Heather” or “Calm Chad”. If at any time someone provides you with constructive feedback this is your opportunity to self-evaluate and avoid the temptation to get defensive.
Enjoy developing your own brand.
Jeff (To Inspire, Motivate and Develop Others)
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