Why Being Present Matters for Personal Branding

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TL;DR: Master the art of being present to transform your communication style and personal brand. By understanding the impact of being present to have a presence, you can build authenticity to create genuine connections with your audience.

Creating a strong personal brand takes so much more than just creating a decked out LinkedIn profile or a well-curated website. It demands authenticity, presence, and most importantly, a genuine connection with your audience.?

This realization hit home during the last session of my WYSO Community Voices training in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Since March, I've been picking up skills in public radio broadcasting to produce an audio news story.

This was the first workshop of the day, but it’s impact lasted with me well beyond the morning. The session, led by Christina Shockley , a seasoned public radio professional, encouraged me to be more present and opened my eyes to my communication style, a lesson that has radically opened my eyes to a “block” I was experiencing in my personal branding.

Recognize the Power of Being Present

In broadcasting, presence is everything. As Christina emphasized, the voice reveals all. Your audience can sense your authenticity, emotions, and engagement through your voice. This principle applies equally to personal branding. If we are not fully present, it is hard to authentically show up for our audience. Whether it’s a podcast, a public speech, or a simple social media post, your presence—or lack thereof—can make or break your connection with your audience. Through it all, we have to be present to create a presence. When we invest in our brand we are not just showing up to be seen, we have to intentionally show up to make a difference.

"We have to be present to create a presence."

Understand the Root of Your Communication Style

Since I was a little girl, I’ve often been told that I speak very fast. In grade school, my peers would nominate me to read because I could get through the materials quickly without skipping a word or missing beat. During our training, we dived into childhood and I realized what role mine plays in my communication. My rapid-fire speaking style stems from being the youngest of five children. I always felt like I had to quickly say what I needed before being overshadowed by my older siblings.

"Understand the difference between your authentic voice and your 'convenient' voice."

This communication style followed me into adulthood and my career. For the longest time, I couldn’t understand why I spoke so fast. Through the WYSO training, I realized this was my “convenient voice” (I made this up, but I think it fits) — a voice that was convenient for others because it allowed me to quickly get through my points. In radio, a convenient voice may be sounding Iike Oprah or Barbara Walters because you believe that's what people expect you to sound like.

However, taking on these personas or expectations is not your authentic voice. When asked where do we see our voice versus where it is now, I recognize that I want to slow down to truly connect with my audience, allowing my words to resonate and create a call to action for those who listen.?

Sip on This...

• How often do you find yourself having issues in your communication, either in speech or writing? Do you feel truly connected with your audience in those moments?
• Have you ever considered whether you are using your convenient voice rather than your authentic voice? What are the implications of this for your personal brand?
• What steps can you take to ensure that you are fully present when engaging with your audience, allowing your true self to shine through?
• Can you identify situations where you might be using a convenient voice instead of your authentic voice? How does this impact your interactions and relationships?
• What changes can you make to embrace and use your authentic voice more consistently in your personal and professional life?

Principles in Action

The session with Christina taught me that our authentic voice is not only essential for building a great tape for radio; the same concepts are more than applicable to cultivating a strong personal brand.

We often adopt a convenient voice to fit into certain situations or meet others' expectations. However, our true power lies in our authentic voice—the voice that reflects our true selves and enables genuine connections with our audience.

While in class, I jotted down a few key actions that can help others apply broadcasting principles to personal branding:?

1. Be Present: Take a moment to breathe and center yourself before engaging with your audience. Whether you’re speaking or writing, being fully present ensures that your authenticity shines through.
2. Connect Emotionally: Just like in broadcasting, your audience can sense your emotions through your voice and words. Be mindful of your tone, inflection, and pace. Speak from the heart to create an emotional connection.
3. Embrace Authenticity: Don’t rush through your communication. Take the time to express yourself fully. Your audience values your genuine voice, not a hurried, convenient one.
4. Practice and Revise: Just as broadcasters practice and revise their scripts, take the time to refine your communication. Ensure that every word serves a purpose and contributes to your overall message.
5. Format for Clarity: In broadcasting, the script’s format impacts delivery. Apply this principle to your writing—use clear, concise language and structure your content for easy understanding.

By adopting these broadcasting principles, we can enhance our personal brands, ensuring that we not only capture our audience’s attention but also build lasting, meaningful connections. As our facilitator Christina says, your voice—your authentic voice—is enough."?

How can you implement these broadcasting principles to enhance your personal brand and create a more authentic connection with your audience??

For a deeper dive into these concepts and how they can transform your personal brand, listen to the latest episode of the Pink Lemonade Podcast, a self-help podcast to help you turn life’s lemons into lessons.