What do you do if your personal brand as an executive is not resonating with your audience?

The questions I ask all my clients include: What are you like on a bad day? What’s it like being led by that version of you?

Sometimes we don't realize something is outdated until we can see it with fresh eyes. It's like a favorite pair of jeans you've had for decades that one day, you notice is wildly out of style. If you suspect your image is out of touch or misaligned with your community, you are probably right. The inner voice knows. First, check in with some trusted "authenticity partners." These are friends or colleagues who will tell it to you straight. They won't coddle you. Simply ask them, "What are three areas you think I can improve my brand presence?" or "How would I come across to you if you didn't know me?" Then, consider hiring a professional branding coach or outside firm to help get you refresh, modernize and realign to who you want to project.

Some ways I’ve shifted over the last ten years: If your personal brand as an executive isn't resonating with your audience, it's time to reassess your messaging, values, and communication style. Engage with your audience to understand their needs and expectations better, then tailor your brand accordingly. Authenticity and flexibility are key in evolving your personal brand to better connect with your audience!

La marca personal la debes trabajar desde que te graduas de la Universidad hasta siempre. Por fuera de la organización debes trabajar en tu hoja de vida, linkedin, asistiendo a espacios académicos y empresariales, ubicando espacios donde puedas gestionar conocimiento y compartir tu experiencia y al interior de la organización, siendo un buen líder, colaborando de manera voluntaria en proyectos especiales de la organización. Debes ser muy cuidadoso de como te vendes tanto interno como externamente.

If it's not working, I certainly need an overhaul or an honest self assessment as well as welcoming honest feedback, a no holds barred session. I need to be ready to make changes but it is important to know what changes I need to make. I need a better understanding of why my personal brand is not selling. Am I trying too hard or not trying at all? Sometimes in trying to sell your brand you can come across as a pushover and that can be off putting. It's mostly about the signals I may be emitting and these can be unconscious signifiers which may be at variance with my picture of the signals I think I am emitting. Identifying these cross wires can be a starting point.

Nestes últimos meses, tenho conversado com pessoas incríveis, de CEOs a profissionais em início de carreira, pedindo feedback e buscando aprender com os diferentes pontos de vistas. Tem sido incrível perceber o quanto aprendemos quando estamos com a escuta ativa.

Describe what you meant to communicate through your branding and why you chose a specific strategy or channel to convey it. This gives the person a context for your approach. Then ask how the messaging landed and some ways they would suggest for you to bridge the gap between what they received and what you aimed to communicate.

Let's keep it real with your personal brand! Make it a safe space for honesty and openness. Encourage your crew (that's you and anyone you trust) to dish out what's working and what's not. Remember, it's not about protecting your image, but about getting the scoop to level up. When we're all real and transparent, we can tweak your personal brand for some serious upgrades.

Es primordial para el crecimiento profesional y personal,-... esto genera que puedas mejorar mas alla de la vision personal... contemplarse como una estratgeia mas que una queja

Be on the constant lookout for opportunities to partake in activities such as conferences or learn new things like reading a book or article, and meet others who align with your brand. These things can be a part of the online and offline discussions you have to perpetuate your knowledge and share with others.

Super helpful at this stage to reflect on two further questions to help set objectives: Who do you admire? Who are your role models?

Em conversa com uma profissional extremamente competente em personal branding, pude perceber minhas potencialidades, experiências já vividas, inclusive internacionais para poder tra?ar novos objetivos. é incrível perceber o quanto você pode aportar de valor para os negócios, trazendo resultados efetivos, n?o só em resultados financeiros mas sobretudo no empoderamento das pessoas.

Sometimes, we need to reset and realign. One thing I’ve learned is mission and vision must be aligned and consistent or your organization will quickly lose its way

Freshen up your look and feel. Use the feedback you got to tweak how you talk. Keep it real and throw in some hip language to stay on point. Pay attention to how you're coming across. Dress and act the part if you're going for that cool, modern vibe.

If your personal brand as an executive isn't resonating, focus on engaging authentically. Reflect on your core values and communicate them genuinely in every interaction. Be transparent about your goals and challenges, listen actively to feedback, and show empathy. Authentic engagement builds trust and fosters deeper connections with your audience.

Embrace vulnerability, a willingness to learn, an openness to adapt. Speak authentically and spend double the time listening to and observing your audience’s reactions. Continue the exercise of actively seeking out feedback on how your branding comes across. Adjust regularly.

Engagement in your own voice is imperative. Take time to hone in to your strengths and gifts. This gives you a great advantage when you tap inward!

Consistency and authenticity were key to rebuilding trust and resonance. I made sure that every interaction, whether online or in-person, reflected my core values and the mission of our brand. Authenticity in communication ensured that my audience could connect with me on a deeper level.

BE WILLING TO PIVOT! If you find it does not resonate with you and your audience change it up! Refuse to be stuck to it, evolve, daily!

Honestly, I don’t think you should ever change your personal brand. It is — essentially — who you are as a professional. If you’re changing it to fit your audience then perhaps you don’t really have one? Your values and ethics as a leader should not waiver. If you’re having difficulty leading it’s probably because: - You are not trusted - You don’t have confidence - You haven’t figured out to to SERVE those you are appointed to lead Your brand is how you show up every day in all situations— good, stressful, catastrophic, as an executive. You can’t talk about the value of everyone on the team, and then complain or badmouth your assistant because a meeting was incorrectly scheduled. (And by the way, the screw up was probably yours.)

Adding to the steps listed above, one thing to focus on is ‘consistency’. Whether it’s 1:1s, stakeholder presentations, or informal conversations — consistency in values, behaviors, and in communication builds trust and credibility, and can help leaders reinforce the personal brand they are trying to forge.

Building self awareness, asking for feedback, noticing the feedback in real time eg when you say something notice the body language of your audience. Preparation is key before engaging an audience- who are they, what are they looking for and how do you compare to their requirements. As you understand your audience and yourself, adjust your message accordingly. Remain curious and be brave as you gather the data that will help you to adapt your message and how you show up. Context is also important. Ultimately people want to know and experience who you are, your work and how it attempts to answer the challenges they have. Change is the only constant. Be open to adjusting your message to your audience to ensure alignment and relevance.

For me, I embraced a mindset of continuous learning. Attending industry seminars, participating in leadership workshops, and staying updated with the latest trends helped me stay relevant. It’s important to continually evolve and adapt to the changing landscape.

Hi All Thx for sharing your perspectives I believe one should Rebuild from the scratch because making small changes here and there might not always help in establishing or strengthening our value as a whole. So establishing check points, listening to feedback and then starting from scratch will only help in creating a strong personal brand. Regards, Sailaja