The Four C’s to Building your Brand
Posted by admin on June 21st, 2010 :: Filed Under: A Fine LineI am increasingly being asked “how can I build my brand?” Whether this brand is in the marketplace at large, or within the company a person currently works, here are four suggestions on how to continue to enrich and anchor your brand in your career:
Be current. Being current is today’s currency. Stay up dated and on the leading edge of your field. Being stagnant or stodgy is a very hard label to erase, once it has been established. Read, explore, and stretch to establish yourself as forward thinking in your industry. Dress hip. Be up on the latest trends and their impact on your field of interest. Integrate technology and social media into your daily routine.
Be consistent. Nothing is more important that establishing a level of expectation and predictability through what you say and do. Think of what you want to be known for; for example: if you want to be perceived as professional – then be so in every aspect of your demeanor: what and how you write, what and how you speak, how you dress, how you respond in a crisis, etc. You will become known for this quality and ‘brand factor’ only through consistency over time.
Be compelling. This is the ‘so what’ factor. What allows you to stand out is your relevance to your audience. What makes YOU compelling? What is your subject matter expertise? What is your unique perspective on solving issues? What is your style in communicating? Whatever your compelling value is must be made relevant to your audience. This so what factor will create a brand which will become uniquely yours.
Be comfortable. As most of you have heard me say, nothing is more distinguishing than a person comfortable in their own skin. Authentic. Fully aligned. Congruent. When a person stands firm, tall, and centered – nothing can rock them from that stance. This will become the cornerstone to your brand.
Tags: personal brand
Great ideas and well expressed. They provide an easy to follow blueprint for someone who wants the \”How-to\” of self branding.
Kristin,
Another terrific blog. I think you have captured that building your brand is more than just a surface look or feel. It goes deep into who you choose to be. Well said.
Ann
Thanks for the reconfirmation of what it takes to keep your brand out in front of all the others. I appreciate all your words of encouragement, it always helps me stay focused on the task at hand.
I have 4 S’s to describe this: Short, Sweet, Straightforward, and most of all, Spot on. I’ve shared it with several people. Thank you.
Great ideas and well expressed. They provide an easy to follow blueprint for someone who wants the “How-to” of self branding.