Be Your BrandJoan Oben

Communication/ Personal Branding

“Personal brand is what people say about you when you leave the

room.” Founder, Amazon.comJeff Bezos

Session Objectives

Define Professional

Brand

The importance of a personal

professional Brand

The impact of dressing, posture,

attitude & disposition on a

professional brand

Appreciate professional

communication – written & verbal

Importance of continuous

improvement to professional brand

The existence of professional brand expectation gap & how to close them

How to correct bad reputations &

wrong impressions

What Words Come To Your Mind?

Therefore: A brand is UNIQUE, VALUABLE and RECOGNIZABLE

What is a Brand?

1. A particular identity or image regarded as an asset

2. A particular type or kind of something

Professional Brand : DEFINITION

The skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well (source: www.merriam-webster.com)

Your professional brand is what your are known for or how you are perceived in relation to your work

Gen 39:2-4,10,22-23.“ The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master SAW that the LORD was with him …….. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.”10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

Joseph, The Dreamer

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority,[a] because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

Why You Need A Professional Brand

Communicates who you areC

Differentiates youD

M

M

Makes you memorable

Matters to your current or potential employer

Professional Brand

CharacterValues

• Strong personal qualities

• Your value system builds your character • Your brand reflects your character

• Principles or standards of behaviour• Belief about what is right and wrong & what is important in life

Value, Character & Professional Brand

Attitude

DressingCommunication Skills

PROFESSIONAL

BRANDING

Other Key Factors Impacting Your Brand

Dressing

Important to note: • Never show too much

flesh• Pay attention to the

details of your dressing• Take into account the

dress code of your work place

• Dress the way you want to be addressed

Your dressing gives an impression to your employer, superiors, co-

workers and clients

Did you know:• “Women in high-level

positions who dress in what is seen as sexy attire are viewed as less competent–regardless of their skill sets” - Peter Glick, a professor of psychology

• The way you dress reflects your attention to details

AttitudeYour attitude is everything!

Your Attitude:• The way you behave

towards someone or something

• It shows how you feel or

think towards that person or thing

• Your attitude impacts your work performance, relationships and everyone around you

CommunicationGood communication means good

business!Written :Remember the 5 ‘Cs’• Completeness• Clarity• Correctness• Conciseness• Courtesy

Verbal :• Confidence• Contact (eye)• Consistency• To ne & frequency• Body language• Speed & Volume control• Choice of words

Your Brand

Building Your Professional Brand

•SPECIFICS•MEASURABLEM• ACHIEVABLEA• RELEVANTR• TIME BOUNDT

•Who are you?•What do you want to be known for? •Set SMART Objectives•Evaluate your present state•Define steps to get you to your desired

state•Go for it!

Be receptive to feedback

Accept criticism with a positive attitudeAvoid being

argumentative

Be disciplined

Promptly attend to identified areas of improvement

Be consistent

Dealing With Expectation Gaps/Correcting Brand Reputation

In reputation we trust

•Seek regular feedback from colleagues and superiors•Read relevant literature•Subscribe to relevant professional blogs (e.g. HBR http://blogs.hbr.org)•Attend workshops• Join Toastmasters (

http://reports.toastmasters.org/findaclub/)

•Be proactive, google it!.

Continuous Improvement

“We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence then is not an act but a

habit.” Philosopher & scientistAristotle

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JOAN OBEN