6 Steps To Build Your Leadership Brand (without managing a team)

Dear Friend,?

When I first started my finance career some 20 years ago, I thought that I would climb the ladder as long as I put in the hard work (and hours) and delivered more than my job description. I focused all my energy on building technical skills, but I wasn’t getting promotions or opportunities. I knew deep down that something was missing. At the same time, I looked up to “successful” peers doing what I dream of - with a team to lead, the title and the opportunities. It seemed so “easy”.

If you have ever been there before, you know how frustrating it feels, wondering why your actions are not achieving your desired results. So I set out on a path to find out why I wasn’t getting the same opportunities. I knew I had to do something different to achieve different results. I started studying and observing leaders around me - how they behave, what they say and what they deliver. I identified the good, the bad and the ugly and realised there are consistent patterns to get to where they are.

That one thing is building your personal brand. This is what you are known for, both in what you say and your results.

Have you wondered how top leaders build their personal brands? Do you want to take off and develop your leadership brand but are unsure how? I have realised how important it is to build your leadership brand early. I know when it comes to career opportunities, you get ‘tapped’ on the shoulder purely because people know who you are and what you promise to deliver, despite not having worked with you. I have experienced this myself.

I can say that after another ten years, I finally developed a system and a model to do consistently achieve my outcomes.

You don’t have to manage a team to be a leader. It’s often a myth that you become a leader ONLY when you have acquired a team. Building your personal brand as a leader starts when you walk into that office each day. The journey will continue in whatever path you choose and to the end of days.

My biggest suggestion is to try everything, reflect, and learn from the process. Make as many mistakes as you can. It is only through making mistakes that you will learn. Below I can share some of my learning and the six steps to building your leadership brand. But first, when you think of a brand as a leader, what do you think of?

Leadership Brands

If you think of all the great leaders you have come across and what’ brand’ they communicate, what parallel brand do you think of? Here are some I have come across:

• No Frills: you get what you see. These leaders are authentic, honest and practical.
• Nike: “Just do it”. These leaders get on with it. No moaning or complaining. They get the job done and mobilise the people around them to achieve it.
• Apple: creative leaders who are constantly making outrageous suggestions and solutions. They want others to embark on a journey with them, both creative and fun.
• Microsoft: consistent and constantly upgrading with ‘new features and applications’. They look outside their profession to learn different skillsets and impart them to others.
• Richard Branson: try anything and everything leader, while smiling through all challenges. They also rally people around them to get on the journey.

The brands mentioned are powerful, and along with the logo, they symbolise many things. Which brand are you??

Key Traits of Great Leaders

Despite having different personalities and ‘brands’, there are some common traits I have learned, and I own these in my personal journey, so I want to share them with you:

• Keep promises: say what you do and if you can’t, communicate and manage expectations.
• Courageous: stand up for what you believe even if it’s unpopular. Have independent thoughts and communicate them, despite what others think.
• Demonstrate respect across all levels: genuinely care for others and show you care.
• Manage expectations: clarify what people want and when they want it. Create mutual “Rules of Engagement” and set boundaries.
• Set a good example: do as they say, constantly ask for feedback and admit to fault.
• Constant learner: continuously learn about anything and not afraid to learn from others.
• Thinker and take action: they think through the challenges but proactively takes action towards a resolution or a goal. They don’t just talk about things.

Can you think of any other traits? Well, before you gain these traits, you need to have a plan to build your leadership brand. Here are the steps I have learned.

The Steps

Here are the six steps I have experienced in the past ten years to give me the results consistently.

1. Identify your values: this is what you stand for, which should underpin your brand. This step is essential as you want to be authentic in your leadership.
2. Have the best vision of yourself: where do you see yourself long term? 3 to 5 years? Is it a role? Is it industry, or is it the work you do? The vision also underpins all other steps.
3. What are the short term brand Goals?: These are short term goals you want to achieve in 12 months that support your vision.
4. Know and grow your market: the core audience you need to communicate your brand to.
5. Communicate your brand: this is the story you tell your core audience, and it’s through your messaging, action and results.
6. Assess what’s in your skills toolbox: What is in your toolbox, and what are you missing to achieve your vision and goals?

Each step involves deep thinking and refining. The plan evolves as you grow to be a leader.

Departing Thought….

What kind of leader do you want to be known for? What brand DNA would you like to exhibit? Here is an exercise for you to take off on this journey.

Think of a brand/person you are enthusiastic about. What’s the DNA, vision and code of that brand/person? Now take a look at your own toolkit. What is common, and what are the gaps?

Words are inadequate to explain the rewarding journey you will experience by doing this exercise. So if you really want to give yourself a shot at being a top leader, what are you waiting for…?

Just Take Off!

If you want help with this process, using some key tools, you may wish to contact me, and I can help you get started. I have created a short course on this program that I’d love to share with you and get you started to build a leadership brand for yourself.

Suppose you are interested in other soft-skills training. In that case, I am also a career coach for over four years, with extensive experience in Finance for over 24 plus years as a Senior Finance Executive.

To your success,

PS: if you feel this could help someone you know, like a friend or colleague, please share this.