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Leverage your
personal brand and your networks
personal brand and your networks
to ensure your success
There’s a new spirit awakening in companies – it’s individualism and it’s here to stay. The focus is no longer on the organisation’s brand and product but rather on the ability of employees to distinguish themselves in the face of competition. And their ability to do this successfully depends on how they brand themselves and grow their personal networks of contacts.
Brand first
But before you rush out to build your network, first focus on how you’re going to build a powerful perception in the minds of your network of contacts. Start to think of yourself as a brand, or even better, as a distinctive brand.
“Personal brand building is no different to promoting the brand of a company or a product,” says Grant Driver a perceptions specialist and international speaker. He says the focus in each case is on:
• Packaging
• Clearly communicating the benefits and features
• Actual performance and reliability and
• Consumer’s total experience.
Together these combine to form a perception in the mind of the consumer which is either positive or negative. Based on this perception, consumers will decide on whether to use the product or move on to another brand.
How people connect with you and your personal brand will depend on your ability to achieve the following:
• Your own professional visual identity – your packaging,
• Positioning the value you can bring to a team, business or relationship,
• Meeting the expectations of those whose relationships are important to you, and
• Making people feel the benefits of being in a relationship with you.
On to networking
Once you’ve established your personal brand, you need to get out there and build your network.
Networking is a buzzword in business. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a network is a "fabric or structure of cords or wires that cross at regular intervals and are knotted or secure at the crossings”. If we rephrase that for business purposes, we could say that a network is a “structure of people and contacts who cross at regular intervals and who are secure at those crossings”.
Research has shown that men are more effective at networking than women – especially on the golf course. Women are getting the hang of it, however, and are starting to leverage the art of connecting in informal environments with a view to building mutually beneficial relationships.
The emphasis in networking is not on “what’s in it for me” but rather on how can you bring something of value to the relationship.
Grant says the benefits of building a powerful personal brand and a strategic approach to networking are huge. “Business has changed. It’s no longer about aggressive strategies to get to the top position. It’s about forming reciprocal relationships with key people who identify with your personal brand and who want to include you in their network of contacts,” he says.
Getting started
Here are some tips from Grant for successfully developing your personal brand and your network.
On your personal brand
Manage your appearance. Always look your best.
Become relevant to your customers by identifying and meeting their needs.
Be consistent and reliable in your performance – this is the key to a powerful brand.
Constantly invest in your personal brand equity by improving your knowledge of your industry, products and business skills.
On your personal network
Don't approach networking with the expectation of immediate gratification. Your goal is to meet people and to understand as much about them as you can.
Develop an elevator speech. This is a 10-second introduction to who you are and what you do. Make those 10 seconds count.
Always have business cards on you.
Ask questions about the other person and listen intently.
Improve your ability to remember people’s names. This is a powerful way of making a profound impression on others.
Ask if you can stay in touch and ask for a business card.
Send a follow-up note and touch on a few things you discussed.
Take active steps on a regular basis to strengthen your network by staying in touch with people you've connected with. Contact Grant Here
Brand first
But before you rush out to build your network, first focus on how you’re going to build a powerful perception in the minds of your network of contacts. Start to think of yourself as a brand, or even better, as a distinctive brand.
“Personal brand building is no different to promoting the brand of a company or a product,” says Grant Driver a perceptions specialist and international speaker. He says the focus in each case is on:
• Packaging
• Clearly communicating the benefits and features
• Actual performance and reliability and
• Consumer’s total experience.
Together these combine to form a perception in the mind of the consumer which is either positive or negative. Based on this perception, consumers will decide on whether to use the product or move on to another brand.
How people connect with you and your personal brand will depend on your ability to achieve the following:
• Your own professional visual identity – your packaging,
• Positioning the value you can bring to a team, business or relationship,
• Meeting the expectations of those whose relationships are important to you, and
• Making people feel the benefits of being in a relationship with you.
On to networking
Once you’ve established your personal brand, you need to get out there and build your network.
Networking is a buzzword in business. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a network is a "fabric or structure of cords or wires that cross at regular intervals and are knotted or secure at the crossings”. If we rephrase that for business purposes, we could say that a network is a “structure of people and contacts who cross at regular intervals and who are secure at those crossings”.
Research has shown that men are more effective at networking than women – especially on the golf course. Women are getting the hang of it, however, and are starting to leverage the art of connecting in informal environments with a view to building mutually beneficial relationships.
The emphasis in networking is not on “what’s in it for me” but rather on how can you bring something of value to the relationship.
Grant says the benefits of building a powerful personal brand and a strategic approach to networking are huge. “Business has changed. It’s no longer about aggressive strategies to get to the top position. It’s about forming reciprocal relationships with key people who identify with your personal brand and who want to include you in their network of contacts,” he says.
Getting started
Here are some tips from Grant for successfully developing your personal brand and your network.
On your personal brand
Manage your appearance. Always look your best.
Become relevant to your customers by identifying and meeting their needs.
Be consistent and reliable in your performance – this is the key to a powerful brand.
Constantly invest in your personal brand equity by improving your knowledge of your industry, products and business skills.
On your personal network
Don't approach networking with the expectation of immediate gratification. Your goal is to meet people and to understand as much about them as you can.
Develop an elevator speech. This is a 10-
Ask questions about the other person and listen intently.
Improve your ability to remember people’s names. This is a powerful way of making a profound impression on others.
Ask if you can stay in touch and ask for a business card.
Send a follow-
Grant Driver
Change Catalyst
!
There’s a new spirit awakening in companies – it’s individualism and it’s here to stay. The focus is no longer on the organisation’s brand and product but rather on the ability of employees to distinguish themselves in the face of competition. And their ability to do this successfully depends on how they brand themselves and grow their personal networks of contacts.
