Igniting your identity with Assisterhood

Recently, the Assisterhood QLD cohort sat down at the stunning Thomas Dixon Centre with mentors Lisa Summer-Hayes and Emmagness Ruzvidzo for a motivating and powerful panel on building personal branding and confidence.?

If you’re keen to start sharing your authentic self with your network, keep reading for a bit of insider knowledge and advice shared by these two brilliant thought leaders.

?1. Find the right audience

Your brand may need to shift based on your audience, but always remember to drive your personal brand with your values.

?“Don’t let your voice be reduced to a whisper.” - Emmagness?

Be sure to check in with yourself and how you’re feeling about the version of yourself you’re presenting. Your brand is what people say about you, both when you’re in and out of the room. But that doesn’t mean everyone’s opinion about you is your business. A good rule of thumb – don’t take advice from anyone you wouldn’t get a coffee with.

2. Don’t follow the crowd – it’s better to stand out

“Balance authenticity with professionalism.” - Lisa

Don’t be disingenuous – it will make your brand inconsistent. Find a path that makes you feel good about your choices. Make sure you know how much of your personal self you are willing to share with the world – it needs to be a little personal or it will be harder to create those memorable connections.

LinkedIn can be your best friend, but remember not every post needs to be a brag for your voice to be heard. Post about things that make you excited, start with one thing and build from there.?

?3. Imposter syndrome means you’re being challenged, lean in!

If you haven’t felt the stirrings of self-doubt or imposter syndrome – you’re either the most confident person in the world or a pro at faking it ‘til you make it. As both Lisa and Emmagness shared, even a GOAT experiences imposter syndrome. It simply means you are being presented with a challenge and care enough to go for it.

“Draw from your successes and address the feelings.” - Emmagness

4. Confidence is a construct

When overcoming a lack of confidence, sit with it. Address the underlying reasons and find strategies to move past it. If you can’t work through it alone, lean on your team or seek out a coach or a mentor.

“Sometimes confidence is listening and if you can’t speak up, find an advocate to champion with you.”? - Lisa

Lisa shared that often a lack of confidence is due to a lack of control.? Remember you are in the room because you deserve to be there.

5. Lean on your tribe

When it comes to branding, consistency is key. Continue showing up and showing people who you are. Plus, let people show you who they are, because you might not be at a table you want to be sitting at. Don’t worry about attracting a large crowd straight away. Focus on the content pillars you want to talk about and you will attract your crowd.

TLDR? Here are Em’s four stages of building an empowered personal brand:

1. Self-awareness – know thyself!

2. Value creation – how do you bring value to the table?

3. Network, network, network! – build your tribe with people that hype you up, give good feedback, and align with your values.

4. Resilience – lean into your community and have an action plan. Remember that your passions can change and evolve, be open to this and stay true to yourself.

How do you elevate your own personal brand? Drop us a comment and let us know.