The "Me" You Never See

Everyone tells you that you must share your personality in your marketing and online, to help people get to know, like and trust you. As I’m fond of saying, people don’t engage with a page. But how do you know what to share, or how much to share???Some people seem to find it easy to share very intimate details about their personal lives and experiences, but others find it excruciatingly challenging.

I always thought that because I tend to see myself as an extrovert I would be completely open with everyone, in every situation. Lately I have noticed there are aspects of my character that have been dormant; I assumed that with my ‘professional’ hat on, there are just some things I would never share publicly.?

However, I recently bought the hat you see in the photo and when I put it on my head, something happened. I felt more ‘me’ than before. It might sound silly but I felt another part of me showing up, and I liked it. What began to emerge was the slightly quirky, creative, artistic and edgy part of me which I exhibited in spades years ago but rarely show in public these days. I will be showing more of that side of me, now that I have seen the impact it has had on me and others. I’m having more fun. And as if by magic, in addition to my usual clients, I started attracting clients who are also slightly more quirky and fun. Amazing.

Now, just because I am in possession of a magic hat doesn’t mean I will wear it all the time in every situation (although that’s a tempting thought). My business brand is all about being a safe pair of hands, guiding clients with professionalism and, hopefully, with class. I am still all of those things, and now there’s just a little more sparkle in my eye and a lot more confidence in my step.

Your professional brand should be just that: professional. Obviously, your brand needs to suit the type of work you do and the clients you are trying to attract. If you feel you need support clarifying your overall brand, let me know and I will hook you up with one of the excellent branding experts in my network.?

I often work with my thought leadership and author clients on staying true to their brand in their writing and speaking. Occasionally, someone will have an idea for a book that is not in keeping with their public brand or persona: for example a lawyer client who wanted to write a book about what he called his ‘dysfunctional family’. Of course we had to discuss the merits and risks of sharing the gory details with the world, and what his clients and prospective clients would think. He ended up not writing that book, but journalling his thoughts instead. Sometimes it's appropriate to open your kimono, as they say, but many times it's advisable to keep it closed and find another way to share more of yourself!

Over the past few years, thanks to the pandemic, we have had to get to know most people in an online format. We are used to that now, and what I find interesting is how different some people are when you get to meet them in person, now things have opened up. My suspicion is that people can put on a persona or control how they show up online, but that’s not sustainable in the real world of in-person encounters.

It’s also true that we have different facets to our personalities, and different ways of behaving, depending on the people we are with. Just think about the way you are with your immediate family or very close friends, and imagine being exactly the same in every social situation. I’m guessing you, like me, there are certain things you would not say and ways you may not want to behave beyond that close circle.

There is definitely a way to show people more of your personality, while still remaining true to your professional brand. It involves looking in the mirror – literally and figuratively. It involves noticing when you put on a piece of clothing you don’t normally wear for business, but which makes you feel great. And it involves getting out of your comfort zone, at least a little.

Please show us the real you, online and offline. If you don’t have complete clarity or confidence about how to be the real you, you may need to experiment and tap into how you used to be when you felt confident. What part of yourself have you kept hidden and would like to bring out more? Sometimes you need to change yourself to be yourself . Growth and change are part of being human. See YOU soon.'