Why Your Professional Brand is NOT what REALLY Matters in a Work Culture that Values Transparency and Authenticity OVER Optics!
Dr. Brandon M.
Strategic problem solver in Project Management, HR Management, and Change Management. Your go-to guy to manage the ambiguous problems your organization faces today or could face tomorrow.
Business leaders love to coach about professional brands - which implies a strong focus on external optics. This is only a partial approach to the benefits assumed, and those benefits come with a hefty mental tariff. In pursuing a professional brand, one might feel like an outsider in an organization that has a certain look and feel. Read along in this article to uncover why you should ignore your professional brand for now, and instead focus on your professional creed. A professional brand and a professional creed are two important concepts for individuals and organizations in the modern workplace. While both serve to guide and define behavior and values, their scope and purpose differ.
Definition of a professional creed
A professional creed is a set of guiding principles and values that individuals or organizations adopt to define their behavior and decision-making in a professional context. It serves as a personal or organizational code of ethics, outlining the beliefs and standards that are most important to an individual or organization. A professional creed can help individuals and organizations maintain focus and commitment, align behavior with values, and provide a framework for decision-making in challenging situations. It can also enhance credibility and reputation, improve relationships and collaboration, and promote personal and organizational growth and development. By establishing and living a professional creed, individuals and organizations can demonstrate their commitment to ethical behavior and maintain a strong and positive reputation in the modern workplace.
Characteristics of a Professional Creed
A professional creed typically possesses certain characteristics that make it an effective tool for guiding behavior and decision-making in a professional context. The Soldier's Creed, for example, is one of the first things a recruit learns in the Military - and there is a great reason for this.
Firstly, a professional creed is a clear and concise statement of values and beliefs, expressing what is most important to the individual or organization. Secondly, it is a personal and unique expression, tailored to the needs and goals of the individual or organization. Thirdly, it is a living document, regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in values, beliefs, and circumstances. Fourthly, it is a shared understanding, embraced by all members of the organization and used to guide behavior and decision-making. Lastly, it is a commitment to ethical behavior, serving as a reminder of the principles and standards that should guide all actions and decisions. These characteristics make a professional creed a powerful tool for promoting personal and organizational growth, enhancing reputation and influence, and ensuring that behavior aligns with values and principles.
Differences between a Professional Creed and a Professional Brand
A professional brand refers to the image and reputation that a person or organization has in the eyes of others. It encompasses the qualities and traits that others associate with an individual or organization, and it is often shaped by factors such as education, experience, and performance. A strong professional brand can help to increase visibility and credibility, attract new opportunities, and enhance reputation and influence. There is nothing wrong with this, except that it does not address the benefits of an approach that is within. So in effect, a personal brand can also come off as ... well... cheesy and untrustworthy. I will not argue that a professional brand can be uniquely shaped by this individual to avoid that. However, a personal brand still requires personal assumptions about what others value as the individual tries to adopt these qualities and traits into their professional brand.
On the other hand, a professional creed is a statement of beliefs and values that guide behavior and decision-making in a professional context. It serves as a personal or organizational code of ethics, outlining the principles and standards that are most important to an individual or organization. A professional creed can help to maintain focus and commitment, align behavior with values, and provide a framework for decision-making in challenging situations. For individuals, a professional creed can be found from within and may eventually translate into a professional brand - a genuine one.
While both a professional brand and a professional creed are important, they serve different purposes. A professional brand is focused on reputation and perception, while a professional creed is focused on personal and organizational values and principles. In order to build a strong and positive reputation, individuals and organizations must first have a clear understanding of their professional creed, and then work to align their behavior with these values.
领英推荐
Benefits of a Professional Creed
A professional creed provides numerous benefits to individuals and organizations. Firstly, it serves as a personal and organizational code of ethics, promoting ethical behavior and decision-making. Secondly, it helps individuals and organizations to align their behavior with their values and principles, promoting personal and organizational growth and development. Thirdly, a professional creed enhances credibility and reputation, improving relationships and collaboration with others. Fourthly, it provides a framework for decision-making in challenging situations, helping individuals and organizations to maintain focus and commitment. Finally, a professional creed promotes consistency and authenticity in behavior, helping individuals and organizations to maintain a strong and positive reputation in the modern workplace. By establishing and living a professional creed, individuals and organizations can demonstrate their commitment to ethical behavior, enhance their reputation and influence, and achieve their professional goals in the most authentic way.
How to Develop a Professional Creed
A professional creed is a powerful tool for guiding behavior and decision-making in the professional world. It serves as a personal and organizational code of ethics, promoting ethical behavior and helping individuals and organizations to align their behavior with their values and principles. You can start with a creed that is in your industry, or you can indulge in a self-journey and build your own. Here is a step-by-step guide to developing a professional creed.
Developing a professional creed is a valuable process that can enhance reputation and influence, promote ethical behavior, and help individuals and organizations to achieve their goals. By following these steps and consistently living your creed, you can establish a strong and positive reputation in the professional world and make a positive impact in the world.
The Wrap-Up!
Living a professional creed is crucial to realize its full benefits and maintaining a strong and positive reputation in the professional world. It involves incorporating the principles and values outlined in the creed into daily behavior and decision-making. This helps individuals and organizations to remain consistent and authentic and focus on what is most important to them. Furthermore, living a professional creed sends a clear message to others about the individual or organization's commitment to ethical behavior and values. This can enhance reputation and influence, and promote trust and confidence among stakeholders. Ultimately, living a professional creed helps individuals and organizations to maintain a strong and positive reputation, achieve their professional goals, and make a positive impact in the world.
Both a professional brand and a professional creed are critical for success in the modern workplace. While they serve different purposes, they can complement and reinforce each other. By establishing and maintaining a clear professional creed, individuals, and organizations can enhance their reputation and influence and ensure that their behavior aligns with their values and principles.
If anything here resonated with you,?please, please, please, comment, share, and subscribe!?In doing so, you let us know that we are providing value and give us insights on how to improve our content week-over-week!?#ioMatterz
#iopsychology?#employeeengagement?#humanresourcemanagement?#employeeexperience #diversity #leadership? #IOpsychology? #motivation? #culturematters?#growth?#employeeengagement?#employeeexperience?#employeemotivation?#employeeretention?#employeesatisfaction?#professionalbrand #professionaldevelopment #professionalcreed #leadership #ioMatters