Watch Your Legacy Bloom: PLANTING?? Your Personal Brand

In the new world of work, leadership isn’t just about skills or competencies.

It’s who you are and how others perceive you.

Your alignment.

Your inspiration.

Your influence.

Your expertise.

Your legacy.

Leaders, this is your personal brand.

Your UVP - Unique Value Proposition.

And in today’s ever-evolving world of business, standing out through a personal brand is not just an advantage, but a necessity.

For yourself. For your team. For your organization.?

Not sure where to start with building your personal brand?

Or, looking to refresh it and in need of some guidance?

I got you.

At Leadership In Bloom Group, I’ve developed a model you can use for PLANTING?? your personal brand.

Purpose:

Clearly define your purpose as a leader. Once you’ve defined your purpose, communicate it. Openly and authentically, to inspire others and create a sense of meaning around your leadership.

Ask yourself:

What are my core values and beliefs?

How do I want to be remembered?

How do I show up?

What drives me?

Leverage:

Stand out as a leader and make a positive impact by identifying your strengths, skills, and experiences.?

Ask yourself:

What sets me apart?

What am I naturally good at?

What do people come to me for?

How can I drive success for myself and my team?

Alignment:

Be true to yourself. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. It’s not only disingenuous, but also exhausting.?

Ask yourself:

Am I staying true to my core values and beliefs?

Am I being honest and transparent in my interactions?

Am I fostering an environment where others can be themselves?

Networking:

Networking can be downright uncomfortable for a lot of leaders, especially those that are more introverted (*cough*me*cough*). But it’s such an important element in building and nurturing your brand. Networking allows you to learn from others, gain new perspectives, and create opportunities for growth.?

Ask yourself:

How can I add value to my network?

Who would I like to build and nurture a relationship with?

What’s one small step I can take to proactively connect with others?

Thought Leadership:

Put yourself out there. Share your insights. Share your expertise. Give value. This can be done in a number of different ways. Through presentations to the Board or at Town Halls, writing posts on publishing platforms or social media, engaging on LinkedIn to support/share/comment on others’ writings, etc. It’s okay to experiment while you figure out what way(s) feel most true for you. But keep showing up.

Ask yourself:

What unique perspective do I have?

How can I effectively communicate it?

What am I passionate about that I can make a meaningful impact with?

Influence:

Lead by example and develop your ability to inspire and influence others in positive ways. Leadership starts with self-awareness + mindset and while everyone’s abilities may be different, the most impactful areas to develop for any leader are emotional intelligence, active listening, and communication.?

Ask yourself:

Am I leading by example?

How am I building relationships?

Am I listening to respond, or to understand?

How am I fostering a culture of trust and collaboration?

Nurture:

Take care of yourself. Mind, body, emotions. Practice ways of self-care that feel right for you. Invest in your personal and professional development - through coaching, mentorship, self-directed learning, formal education, etc.??

Ask yourself:

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well am I taking care of myself holistically?

What’s one small step I can take to move that forward?

What does it look like and feel like when I’m in nurture mode?

Grace & Generosity

Building and nurturing a personal brand takes time and is fluid. Becoming more self-aware, getting clear on your purpose, etc. - can be a rollercoaster of highs and lows, fears and doubts, joy and fulfillment. Give yourself grace the whole way through.?

Be generous as well. In recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of others. In mentoring and supporting others to help them learn and grow. In cultivating a mindset and practice of gratitude, for the relationships, experiences, and opportunities that have contributed to your successes. In giving back to make a positive difference.?

Ask yourself:

How can I practice self-compassion in those moments I’m hard on myself?

Am I actively seeking out opportunities to mentor or guide others?

What have I learned from this setback/failure/disappointment?

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Plant the seeds of possibility. Watch your legacy bloom.?

Hi, I’m Kris, Founder, Chief Empathy Officer (CEO), & Executive Coach at Leadership In Bloom Group. I partner with start-up and SMB leaders on Personal Branding, Employer Branding, and the Employee Value Proposition.?

On March 19th, the first day of spring, I’m launching my first 4-month virtual group mentoring program to help leaders PLANT?? their personal brands. Interested? DM me “PLANT” to join the waitlist and to get more info.?