Internal communications (IC) is a vital function that connects, engages, and informs employees across an organization. As an IC professional, you need to communicate effectively with different audiences, channels, and formats. But how can you stand out from the crowd and showcase your value and expertise? One way is to build and leverage your personal brand.
Personal branding is the process of creating and managing your reputation, identity, and image in the professional world. It is how you present yourself, your skills, your values, and your personality to others. It is also how you differentiate yourself from your peers and competitors. Personal branding is not about bragging or self-promotion. It is about being authentic, consistent, and credible.
Don't be afraid to be unapologetically YOU For a long time, belonging was about culture FIT. It was about assimilation because people hired others who looked, thought, talked like them. Quite honestly it's led to yawn inducing boredom of more of the same conversations about lack of change in internal comms that has been happening for the 30 years I have been in the business. This next 30 is going to be marked by diversity, innovation, future thinking. You should be thinking about Culture ADD - what you add to the culture and profession. What can bring to make and drive a difference in thinking and doing. Expectations are changing and we need to stop accepting mediocrity and be ready to stand out.
Internal Communications is all about storytelling and it is imperative that you are able to tell your own unique story! Your own story helps build your credibility and helps you use that to help tell the organization's story. Personal branding is key to help you build relationships, that are a cornerstone of this field of work.
Personal branding, to me, is about authentically showcasing who I am and what I stand for. As the founder of Optrait Financial Solutions, I bring a unique blend of passion for investing, a knack for quantitative problem-solving from my Engineering background, and a strong belief in the leadership and teamwork fostered by my sports achievements, including a National Gold in Karate and competing at the National level in Taekwondo. It's about building credibility, sparking meaningful conversations, and sharing insights within the financial community. #PersonalBranding #InvestingPassion #TeamSpirit
Here are 3 strategies to stand out: 1. Showcase Your Unique Value Proposition: Identify what sets you apart from others in the field. Determine your unique skills, strengths, and areas of expertise that you bring to the table. 2. Show Creativity: Internal communications need creativity along with content and innovation to engage the audience effectively. Demonstrate your creativity by developing engaging content - that will do the job for you. 3. Engage on Social Media: Leverage social media platforms to amplify your personal brand and reach a broader network. Share insights, POVs, articles, TLs, and updates related to internal communications and trends. Be the voice of your own.
I strongly believe that the first step in establishing your personal brand is based on your credibility. Other will see how integral you are before engaging with you at a personal and professional level.
Personal branding is an important factor for IC professionals as it can help to build trust and credibility with stakeholders, demonstrate expertise and understanding of the organizational culture, increase visibility, create a supportive network, and enhance influence. All of these elements can be instrumental in helping you grow and advance your career.
Be someone who introduces people to each other. Nothing does more for your personal brand in an organization. Be a #superconnector.
Trust is the cornerstone of internal communications, fostering engagement, transparency, and collaboration among employees. With trust comes open and honest employee feedback, which can ultimately improve your organization. By creating a personal brand that emphasizes integrity and authenticity, communicators build credibility, boosting morale, and productivity within the workplace.
Creating a personal brand entails some introspection, exploration, and action. To start, define your value proposition . Think about your unique strengths, skills, and passions, as well as your core values and beliefs. Determine your professional goals and how you can add value to your organization and field. Then identify your target audience —who are the people you want to reach, impress, and influence? Consider their needs, expectations, and preferences. Craft a personal story that communicates your value proposition and target audience in an engaging way. Choose the right platforms and channels—online and offline—to showcase your personal brand. Finally, engage with your target audience and other IC professionals by sharing insights, opinions, and feedback on relevant topics. Participate in online and offline communities, events, and forums. Build relationships with those who share similar values and interests.
You have to be focused and intentional on who you are and what you do. It's very easy for coworkers or leaders to only see you for the work you do in front of them. If they only see you as the person who "takes a photo of the cake at the retirement party," that becomes your brand and is a tough impression to shake. Look for opportunities to show you are more than a person who does a task.
Measuring your personal brand is not an exact science, but it can help you assess your progress and identify areas for improvement. To do this, you should ask for feedback from stakeholders, colleagues, managers, mentors, and peers. This will help you understand their perception of your personal brand and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, you should track your recognition and reputation both inside and outside the organization. Pay attention to how often you are mentioned, praised, endorsed, invited, featured, or quoted as an IC expert or leader. You should also monitor your influence and impact on your target audience and field by tracking how many people follow, like, comment or share your content. Lastly, measure how many people contact, refer or recommend you for IC opportunities or projects as well as how many people adopt, implement or benefit from your IC strategies or solutions.
Who are you? What do you stand for? Personal branding is not a term we flash around in friendship circles. Its a term reserved for professionals (executives and CEO’s) and those in the public spotlight. However, it means how one portrays oneself. In a typical branding process, we consider how you want others to feel about you... ? Who?keeps you on your toes (competitors/allies?) and how you manage yourself around these people ? Where your passions and strengths are for conversation and how can you enliven so that you open your 'go to' vibe ? How?do you present your best you? Is your personal presentation and vibe matching your expectations for both verbal and non-verbal communication and getting you ahead of your game. Be you.
Maintaining your personal brand is an ongoing process that requires constant attention and adaptation. To stay updated and relevant, you should keep learning and improving your IC skills and knowledge, as well as staying on top of the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in IC and your industry. Additionally, you should update your platforms and channels with fresh and valuable content. Furthermore, it's important to stay consistent and authentic by delivering on your value proposition and promises while staying true to your core values and beliefs. Additionally, you should stay humble and respectful by seeking feedback and learning from your mistakes, staying open to new ideas and perspectives, avoiding being arrogant or defensive, respecting your audience and peers, as well as appreciating and acknowledging your supporters and collaborators.
Apart from what Mike so eloquently and precisely sums up in his note above, I would say: 1. Be curious - this is the foundation of your brand. 2. Be committed - without it, you'll never begin. 3. Be consistent - without consistency, you will never finish. 4. Be kind - we all are in a storm, just in different boats. Remember that. 5. Be genuine - your authenticity shines through, always! Cultivating a personal brand is about so much more than professional advancement. It is a pathway to enriching our lives and the lives of those around us by fostering connections that transcend the transactional and touch on the truly transformational.
Muita historinha... O mais importante é entregar resultados e trabalhar com profissionalismo e ética. A reputa??o vem naturalmente.