Why you should rebrand your personal image when joining a new team.

Reasons to reinvent

Those who are skeptical might see personal branding as ‘faking’ your way into something, or ‘pretending’ to be someone you’re not. In theory, personal branding is when you highlight the positive elements of your personality to your favor.

Some people might have already been doing personal branding, but not reaping their sow yet. Here are a few reasons you should consider to rebrand your personal image:

• Your current persona isn’t pushing you to the right direction. If you’re currently trying to establish yourself as a thought leader in your space, an existing identity as a “newcomer” to your industry may prevent you from scaling.
• Your ideal audience has evolved. As a student, you may focus on capturing the attention of admissions officers. As a new employee, you might want to network with other professionals. Grow your identity by shifting your professional persona.
• Your brand isn’t memorable enough. When you’re the top-of-mind person at work, you become the reliable employee and increase your chances of landing new projects and eventually a job promotion.

Learn more about what it means to rebrand your personal image in the full article here .

The grand re-debut

Now that you’re sure and committed to show a new side of yourself, it’s time to lay out and implement the necessary steps.

As seen in Harvard Business Review, the following 5 steps are essential whether your desired changes are large or small:

1. Define Your DestinationStart by determining where you really want to invest your energy. Check out relevant industry trade journals or do informational interviews. If you’re looking to advance laterally in your company, seek a mentor or a sabbatical.
2. Leverage Your Points of DifferenceReconfigure your brand to compete in the new marketplace. Previous experience can distinctively color your new brand and help you stand out. Highlight distinguishing characteristics even if they might be strictly relevant to your work.
3. Develop A NarrativeTo protect your personal brand, you need to develop a coherent narrative that explains exactly how your past fits into your present. Turn what could be perceived as weakness into a compelling, memorable strength.
4. Reintroduce YourselfOnce you’ve embraced your rebrand, making new contacts will come naturally as they’ll most likely take the new you at face value.
5. Prove Your WorthEvery art student has a portfolio ready to be shown at a moment’s notice. It’s no different in the business world. This is where where blogs, podcasts, videocasts, and other forms of social media come in.

Dive deeper into the examples and details of each step in the full HBR piece here .

Not-to-dos of rebranding

As you navigate through your personal rebranding journey, make sure to avoid these common mistakes, which are also often found in rebranding for businesses:

• Failing to Retain Current Brand EquityIf your new branding will scare your current audience away, you’ll put yourself in a worse position than you were before. Always bring your USP from the old you.
• Failing to Understand if (or why) a?Rebrand is NecessaryRebranding should not be done every other month, or whenever you feel ‘bored’. It will likely decrease people’s trust and interest in you and your work.
• Avoiding ConsultingSome people might not able to reliably see through the fog of their own brand, which can lead to poor decisions during the branding process.
• Lack of Consistency Across Branding ChannelsYour rebranding effort should be complete and obvious across all of your personal channels. Whether it is through face-to-face interactions, or on social media.
• A Lack of Focus on ObjectivesWithout clear goals, it is hard to evaluate your efforts and determine if you were successful. Set a clear indicator, such as ‘chosen as leader of the next project’.

Find more insights from a business POV, which could be applicable for personal growth as well, in the full article here .

Have you gone through a personal rebrand before? What are your thoughts on the tips above?

If you think anyone around you might need a fresh rebrand, send this week’s Monday Mavens edition their way!

See you around next Monday for more personal growth and productivity insights.