Why You Need A Personal Brand

Hi and welcome to issue?# 9 of THEHRCareerCoach?newsletter. Thank you so much to the 1693 subscribers who have signed up so far to my newsletter.??

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Today, I want to discuss the importance of building your personal brand within your HR role.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, defining your personal brand is crucial if you want to stand out from the crowd and gain recognition for your achievements. ??

I understand that building a personal brand can be challenging for some individuals. I remember feeling awkward about self-promotion myself.

Growing up, I was taught not to show off, so I never really highlighted my accomplishments or engaged in self-promotion. However, I had a wake-up call when a Director advised me to showcase my work achievements to those who mattered; otherwise, my accomplishments might go unnoticed. This was my first encounter with the concept of developing a personal brand.

Until then, I had always believed that hard work alone would speak for itself. I assumed that if I put in the effort and delivered quality results, people would automatically recognise my contributions. However, with this newfound knowledge, I realised that actively managing my reputation within the organisation would directly impact my personal brand and career trajectory.??

I also understood that when the time came for me to move on, having a strong personal brand would not only ensure an outstanding reference but also give me the confidence to discuss my achievements convincingly during interviews.

Personal branding for job searching is an entire topic on its own, which I'll cover in my next newsletter.

Having a personal brand sets you apart from others and positions you for future promotions. It's about establishing and reinforcing your unique identity and values.

So, how can you begin building your personal brand? Here are five tips to help you get started:

1. Seek out opportunities: One way to shape your professional reputation is to engage in projects, roles, or initiatives that strengthen your desired identity. Think about what you want your future career to look like and actively seek out and volunteer for high-profile assignments and opportunities where you can demonstrate your new brand in action. By actively engaging in such initiatives you can demonstrate your brand in action and strengthen your reputation.
2. Ask questions: Active participation is key. If you don’t contribute or ask anything in a meeting, others simply won’t notice you. I’m not suggesting talking for the sake of talking, but find a way that works for you to engage in staff meetings, events or conferences. Prepare an interesting and original question related to the topic being discussed. Introduce yourself with your full name, title, and organisation before asking the question.
3. Network: While the idea of networking may be intimidating for some, in this context, it's about being friendly and curious with colleagues across the organisation. Extend your connections beyond your own department. Internal networking and relationship-building are essential for building your personal brand. Interacting with other teams also expands your knowledge base, enabling you to contribute on matters across the organisation.
4. Present at an event: Delivering a presentation at an event can significantly enhance your professional reputation and establish your credibility as an expert in your field. If public speaking is daunting for you, start by sharing project updates at key meetings to build confidence before taking centre stage at an event.
5. Share your views: Proactively provide advice and support within your area of expertise, both online and in-person. Consider joining professional networks like your local CIPD or other HR networks. Leverage social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, to share your views and insights with groups you're a member of.

Remember, if you don't define your personal brand, others will define it for you!

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I hope these tips will help you start building your personal brand and pave the way for your continued success in your HR career.

If you found this newsletter interesting or have a colleague who needs to hear this at the moment, please feel free to share.

If you need support in building your personal brand or any aspect of accelerating your HR career, I am here to help you.

Let's have a chat.?Book a no obligation 30 minute call in the link below.?We can talk through your career goals and the challenges you are facing and see if we are right to work together to help you get where you want to be.

https://calendly.com/lorraine-eivers-coaching/30min