Here's how you can cultivate your personal brand and become a thought leader as an executive.

Before diving into personal branding, defining clear, measurable goals is essential. For instance, an executive aiming to influence industry policy could set a goal of publishing thought leadership articles in top regulatory journals within a year. This specificity not only guides your efforts but also ensures your personal brand aligns with your professional ambitions, reinforcing credibility and impact.

Justamente dise?é un programa de coaching de 6 encuentros donde acompa?o a las personas a dise?ar la Oferta de su SER. Una marca personal sin pasearse por reconocer quién eres, qué quieres, por qué y para qué lo quieres, puede dejarnos muy por debajo de nuestra auténtica marca personal. La marca personal es producto de un proceso exhaustivo, profundo, indagativo y apreciativo de la diversidad de identidades que has construido a lo largo de tu vida, por un lado. También, la marca personal mira hacia adelante; en quién te quieres convertir, en qué y para qué quieres impactar la vida de las personas. Para encontrar tu verdadera marca personal y ser original e irrepetible en todo, necesitas trabara en la oferta de tu ser. !Conversemos!

Crazy Story, re: Personal Branding for an IT Manager… suddenly offered opportunity to level-up to Director, at a major Atlanta company. At 2pm on Friday "Bill" needed to have his Personal Branding, LinkedIn Profile, & Resume completed by Monday 8am! He kept describing his work from a "techie" perspective. After hours of digging for accomplishments: nada. Finally, I bluffed: I'd stop unless I had examples of his accomplishments. We found he was a major player in a major IT breach, and was on the team that fixed it! It just wasn't obvious to him, among the weeds, what his real-life accomplishments were! We grew a new thought leader and executive over the weekend!

Understanding your audience goes beyond demographics; it involves empathizing with their challenges and aspirations. Imagine an executive in renewable energy targeting both industry peers and potential investors. By tailoring content to address technological advancements for a non-technical audience in blog posts and speaking engagements, they can effectively bridge knowledge gaps and attract stakeholders crucial for business growth.

Analyze your advantages and most importantly the ‘unfair advantages’ - what are the things about you that might be underrated? These are the things are ultimately going to differentiate you and the way you present yourself. By discovering yourself, you’ll be able to craft absolute unique messages that only YOU can deliver.

In the field of communications, you cannot operate in a vaccum. Engage online on various platforms like LinkedIn. You could participate in discussions online, post articles and comment on relevant posts with insights that a beginner in your field might appreciate. You could also network with people in your field and that of peripheral fields as well. Eg, a comms person should connect with PR, marketing, sales, industry leaders, compliance officers, brand managers to name a few. The idea here is to establish yourself as a credible and reliable source who is well acquainted with the nitty gritties of the field.

Public speaking isn't merely about sharing insights but shaping conversations. Picture an executive in cybersecurity addressing global security threats at a tech summit. By offering proactive solutions and engaging with diverse audiences through webinars and panel discussions, they not only enhance personal visibility but also influence policy decisions, solidifying their role as a trusted advisor in safeguarding digital ecosystems.

While we instinctively know the value of a strong personal brand, I've seen so many instances of professionals with a deep resistance to do so. It usually stems from a displeasure for what is seeing as 'self aggrandisement' or simply boastful displays of self-promotion. I see it as an opportunity to spark conversations, to connect, to showcase your authentic self. You need to start by getting over 'cringe mountain', take that first small step towards establishing your unique voice.

As an executive, cultivating your personal brand and becoming a thought leader is not just about self-promotion, but about sharing your unique perspective and passion to inspire and elevate others. By embracing your authenticity, vulnerability, and expertise, you can create a ripple effect of trust, credibility, and influence that resonates far beyond your professional sphere. By sharing your story, showcasing your values, and sparking meaningful conversations, you can become a beacon of hope, innovation, and progress, illuminating the path for others to follow. In doing so, you not only elevate your own profile but also contribute to a culture of thought leadership that drives positive change and leaves a lasting impact.

First and foremost, you have to have a message or point of view to share. How do you begin your thought leadership journey? The first step is to decide what you want from your thought leadership efforts. Do you want to become an international keynote speaker? Do you want to begin publishing articles or blog posts to make more people aware of your consulting practice, or to position yourself for a step up in your career? Do you want to add a thought leadership revenue stream to your income? These are the questions to ask yourself. Second, your next step is to decide what you want as a thought leader -- and what you want to bring about in the world by sharing your ideas and POV with others. Good luck. ????