10 Steps to Creating A Personal Leadership Brand

Sydney Chaney Thomas, May 2023, San Francisco

Is Branding Yourself Necessary in Business? When I spoke at the Women of Silicon Valley Conference in May, I spent several hours working with clients in the Career Advice and Personal Branding Hub. I talked to women from all over the country from big brands like Apple to small startups, and they all wanted to know how to have more impact at work, how to get more visibility, and most importantly how to get PROMOTED at work.

These Are The Basics

Effective individual contributors and managers must possess a range of skills and qualities, including good communication, time management, organization, attention to detail, decision-making, and flexibility. They also demonstrate good leadership skills, including vision, direction, goal setting, motivation, and accountability. Please note that you don’t have to have an official title to be a leader. You can lead from wherever you are and should.

Effective managers are able to successfully manage a team of individuals and ensure that the team achieves success. This includes assigning individual tasks, delegating responsibilities, tracking progress, problem-solving, and making decisions. It also requires good collaboration skills, including being a good listener, an excellent communicator, and a team player.

But what about branding? How do you display your hard work and skills in the workplace so you stand out? There are many competent managers, but what makes someone leadership material? And, how do you develop your own personal brand?

10 Things you can do to get started are:

1. Take the time to understand your strengths, skills, values, and unique qualities. What sets you apart from others? What is your legacy?
2. Define your brand identity by creating a clear and concise personal mission statement that communicates your uniqueness and the value you have to offer.
3. Identify the people you want to connect with. Who can benefit from your expertise, products, or services? Understand their needs, challenges, and preferences.
4. Create a consistent online presence by using professional photos of yourself and constantly updating and editing your profiles to reflect who you are as you gain skills, and change roles and/or companies.
5. Curate your social media profiles, personal websites, and other relevant platforms. Use a consistent username, profile picture, and branding elements. Do not allow these artifacts to become stale or out of date.
6. Share valuable content related to your expertise and passions. This could include articles, blog posts, videos, podcasts, and social media updates. Content should reflect your values and resonate with your target audience.
7. Be genuine and authentic in your interactions. People connect with real individuals, so avoid portraying a persona that doesn’t align with who you really are or your personal values.
8. Like all good branding choose a consistent color scheme, typography, and visual elements for your brand. These should be reflected in your website, social media posts, and any other branded materials.
9. Build relationships with peers, mentors, influencers, and potential clients or customers. Attend industry events, conferences, and webinars to connect with others in your field. Do not be afraid to reach out to new people and include them in events you are attending.
10. Consistency is key to building a strong brand. Your messaging, visuals, and overall tone should remain consistent across all platforms. It’s like when you have to send a Venmo and you can’t really tell it is the right person from the photo. Use clear and consistent photos and images.

These are some of the ways to create a leadership and personal brand, but the most important thing to remember is to continue to work hard and always have integrity. With hard work and integrity and employing the above 10 strategies, you should move ahead at whatever stage you are in.

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Please comment below with your own thoughts and strategies for creating a personal brand.