I get so many questions about Personal Branding... usually starts with a startled expression at the phrase as if I've just mentioned an alien landing, then a slow nodding, and when the lights come on, an expression of delight. Well, usually.
And no, we are not brands, we are Louise or Peter or Margot... However, our public persona is a brand, so to speak. We can either manage it or have it managed for us. It has to be consistent to have any value, and if its not authentic, well, who will trust it?
In a branded world, Personal Branding is more than just a hot topic... We all brand ourselves and each other constantly. Each time we ask who someone else is, the response usually follows the same lines... "that's Joe Bloggs, he is a banker/lawyer/writer, interesting/dull/strange/fun guy..."
We can't avoid it. All sorts of people are fast becoming aware of the need to create and manage a consistent public persona. One that is authentic, one that works for them, one that delivers a competitive advantage.
persona, pl. personas: The role or facade that one assumes or displays in public or society; one's public image or personality, as distinguished from the inner self.
05 July 2007
Personal Branding
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2 comments:
We are already branded, the concept is more about changing perception so that people feel they are products that need to be marketed to stand out through differentiation.
Dan Schawbel
Personal Branding Spokesman
www.personalbrandingblog.com
Great introduction to the concept of Personas. I use it all the time with my clients (lawyers, accountants, financial planners, real estate, and health experts).
We have different roles to play. And thus different personas. And thus, a different brand to different people.
It's supposed to be that way. We manage our preception as a "spouse," "parent," "child," "co-worker," "boss," "friend," and "expert" differently. We need to be conscious to which Community we are honing our Persona for.
That's why it's important to have -Role- Models. We are a collage of those we admire and strive to be like... as we develop their habits, and overcome similar struggles (mostly, between our ears)... we too can achieve as our role models.
The trick is to make sure we do not seem like totally different people. All our faces, images, or Personas should work together to create a more unified and larger self. Or else we'd be hypocritical, conflicted, or schizophrenic.
But this isn't grand theory -- we all speak slightly differently depending on the crowd we're with... We're not being fake, we're being more "me" for that crowd.
Be conscious of the crowd, or Community, it's our Personal Brand Focus Factor.
Great blog.
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