There shouldn’t be a massive distinction between maintaining your personal and professional brand – there can’t be a Jekyll and Hyde version between both. In reality, both should be blended together in a unique fusion that best represents who you are – no matter what environment you’re in.
Reputations, like organizational brands, can take years of methodical building to create – and only seconds to crumble. Consider these 5 aspects with regards to sustaining a healthy brand – in your personal and professional sphere.
- Reputation Management
“Your personal brand is all about who you are and what you want to be known for.”
You need to be your own Public Relations agency. At the end of the day, you are the only catalyst of your brand. If there is a noticeable night and day version between your two personas, then it will be difficult maintaining a consistent brand. Your reputation is the greatest currency you have. Your word is bond. You are only as good as your word – stay true to it.
- Watch your digital footprint
This shouldn’t come as any shocking surprise, but unless you’ve lived deep in the backwoods for the past 10 years – you’ve left a significant digital footprint. Prospective employers can learn a lot about you online. In this digital age, it is excruciatingly important to monitor your presence on social media and keep a clean and healthy image.
- Develop a “brand mantra”
Similar to how organizations create mission and vision statements – you need to have a mantra that sums up the core of you. What kind of an emotional appeal do you leave with people? How does your personality impact people? Determine what you want your description to be and how compatible it is in the professional ecosystem.
- Remain consistent
“If you tell the truth – you don’t have to remember anything.” – Mark Twain
Who you are as a person should never falter when you’re in different social or professional environments. Psychologists have done numerous social experiments that speak to how our behaviours change in different social settings. The essential version of us should be a fluid motion from different environments – however, that isn’t always the case.
“These environmental cues can shape and reshape us as quickly as we walk from one part of the city to another.”
- Follow the golden rule
Treat others how you would like to be treated. Enough said.
Things can begin to move very quickly in the preliminary stages of launching a new business. It’s wise to begin to map out what kind of a culture you’re hoping to cultivate – and how this will play into enhancing your personal brand. Consider these 4 important elements when creating a great culture for your startup.