Employee Branding: My personal journey of struggling with workplace visibility

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of the modern workplace, a concept gaining increasing importance is employee branding. It's not just about what you do but how you do it and how you perceive your work. Your attitude, behavior, and visibility in the workplace play a pivotal role in shaping your employee brand. In this article, we will explore how your perception of work influences how others perceive you, with a particular focus on workplace visibility, using a personal experience to highlight its significance.

The Power of Employee Branding

Employee branding goes beyond your job description and qualifications. It encompasses your values, work ethic, communication skills, and how you interact with colleagues and superiors. Just like companies have corporate brands that influence how consumers perceive them, individuals have employee brands that affect how coworkers, supervisors, and even external contacts view them.

Your employee brand can be a key factor in your professional success. It can open doors to new opportunities, influence promotions, and even impact your job satisfaction. It is, in essence, your professional identity.

Perception Is Reality: A Personal Struggle

The saying "perception is reality" couldn't be more relevant in the context of employee branding. How you perceive your work and your role within the organization significantly influences how others perceive you. Here's a personal story to illustrate the importance of workplace visibility in employee branding:

For many years, I was a dedicated and hardworking member of my organization. I diligently completed my tasks, exceeded expectations, and consistently delivered high-quality results. However, despite my best efforts, I struggled with workplace visibility. It seemed that my contributions often went unnoticed by upper management.

This lack of visibility took a toll on my career progression. While I believed I deserved a promotion, it was difficult for my boss to advocate for me. My excellent work was not translating into the recognition and advancement I had hoped for.

The Turning Point: Embracing Visibility

Realizing that my employee branding needed a revamp, I decided to take proactive steps to increase my visibility in the workplace:

1. Engagement in Projects: I started volunteering for high-impact projects and cross-functional teams. By stepping out of my comfort zone and taking on new challenges, I not only showcased my skills but also demonstrated my commitment to the organization's success.
2. Networking: I actively began building professional relationships within and outside the organization. Networking allowed me to connect with influential colleagues and mentors who could vouch for my capabilities.
3. Leadership Opportunities: I pursued leadership roles, even if they were informal, within my team and on special initiatives. Taking the lead in projects not only showcased my leadership potential but also highlighted my dedication to the organization's goals.
4. Sharing Expertise: I started sharing my knowledge and expertise more openly with colleagues. Whether it was through presentations, workshops, or mentoring sessions, I aimed to establish myself as a subject matter expert in my field.
5. Recognition: I made a conscious effort to acknowledge the achievements of my colleagues and give credit where it was due. Fostering a positive workplace culture not only benefited others but also helped me build stronger relationships and increase my visibility.

Conclusion

My personal journey of struggling with workplace visibility and the subsequent efforts to enhance it taught me a valuable lesson: employee branding is as much about being seen as it is about doing great work. By embracing a positive attitude, demonstrating professionalism, and actively seeking opportunities to increase my workplace visibility, I was able to reshape my employee brand. Eventually, my newfound visibility allowed me to garner the recognition and promotion I had long aspired to achieve.

In the world of work, how you perceive your role and approach your tasks can have a profound impact on how others perceive you. Your perception of work will determine how people perceive you, so make it count by actively cultivating your employee brand and ensuring your contributions are visible to those who matter most.