Building Your Personal Brand: The Art Of Being The You That You Want Them to See

The idea of building a personal brand, especially in a professional setting, can (and understandably so) feel overwhelming. I am here, however, to tell you that long gone are the days of personal brands being solely for celebrities, executives, and media personas. Together, let’s break down how identifying and establishing your brand can be exciting and valuable.

1. Identify Your Core Values

Chances are that your organization is founded on a number of core values that they proudly adhere to and align themselves with — why should you be any different? Before you start marketing yourself like the latest iPhone, you need to know what really makes you tick. What are your non-negotiables? What characteristics make you uniquely you? What about yourself do you take pride in? Contrary to that, what about yourself do you think is not the greatest and would want to leave out of your personal brand?

I recommend taking time for “me myself and I”, putting pen to paper, and listing your top values. Next, think about opportunities for those values to show up in your work. Do you value creativity? Maybe you’re the Picasso of presentations. Value reliability? Perhaps you’re the go-to person when others need to have someone whose got their back. Don’t forget about those around you — asking colleagues and mentors for their observations on your strengths can provide valuable perspectives. Regardless of the trait, if it’s your thing it will help you craft a personal brand that’s authentic, effective, and maybe even a bit charming.

2. Align Yourself With the Right Opportunities

Now that you’ve got a grip on your values, it’s time to align yourself with opportunities that showcase these qualities. I know plenty of us are uncomfortable with or unsure of how to advocate for ourselves, and that’s ok. However, if no one else knows about your strengths and accomplishments they can’t tell you how awesome of a job you did on that thing that was actually super important, but you didn’t want to come off as “braggy” about it.

So, how do you make you known? Seek out projects, roles, and even extracurricular activities that resonate with your core values. For example, if you value innovation, seek out roles that involve creative problem-solving or strategic planning. By living and exemplifying your values, your personal brand will evolve into a reflection of who you are, not just what you do.

Another great way to get you out there: network strategically. While this can, and likely will, include professional communities and gatherings, don’t underestimate the power of the water-cooler or the coffee-pot as a venue for putting that persona into action. For my WFH people out there, be sure to let yourself shine in those pre-meeting pleasantries or even on LinkedIn! Just be sure to tag all of the right people 😉  

3. Enter Your Reputation Era…and Maintain it

So, now that you’ve built your reputation, what are you going to do with it? Maintain it! Again, for those of us in the back – maintain it! Through consistent behaviors and actions, we build trust and reliability. When others can rely on you to be you, you’ve got yourself a reputation and a personal brand.

Remember, building a personal brand in a professional setting isn’t about creating a fake persona or plastering a perpetual smile. It’s about identifying your core values, aligning yourself with opportunities that let those values shine, and maintaining your reputation with consistency and integrity. So go forth and brand yourself wisely — and remember, a little bit of you can be a lot to be proud of.  

Written by Allie Glick