“The world will ask who you are, and if you do not know, the world will tell you.” So you have two choices. Being intentional with your personal brand gives you the opportunity to communicate expertise, personality and values, empowering you to navigate the professional world and your well-being. Personal branding is a strategy, and defining, developing and communicating your brand are key steps of your branding strategy. Think of your personal branding statement as a part of the communication step. It’s like your slogan or tagline – your unique value proposition and a guide to your actions. Companies spend billions upholding their brand through marketing and public relations efforts. It’s an essential investment for you, too, if you want to stay competitive and equipped for the future of work. A personal branding statement can also increase confidence, remind you of your purpose and manage time and energy.
A clear and concise personal branding statement can be used when introducing yourself, in the professional summary section of your résumé, the bio section of your social media profile(s) and a personal email signature. The more you repeat your message, the more it will stick. Just ensure it’s a good one because 79% reject a job candidate based on information they found online.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when thinking about how to write a personal branding statement:
1) What’s your personal branding goal? Maybe it’s a promotion, external opportunities, building relationships or improving mental and emotional health.
2) Who is your audience?
3) What are some core themes? Reflect on a time you learned something pivotal, experienced a strong sense of meaning and fulfillment or just felt a click. Common themes like mental health, empowering people of color or professional development may shed further light on your values.
4) Strong brands are based on differences. Reflect on what has made you successful in your role.
5) Introducing yourself by your job title may not mean anything to your audience. Capture attention by talking about the results and benefits of your work. What value do people get from your work?
Remember, your personal branding statement is a conversation starter. You want to avoid packing it all in or letting it fall flat due to a lack of personality. Keep it at 1-3 sentences; that way, it’s concise and catchy.
Example personal branding statements:
1) I’m an animal doctor and attorney. My unique educational background went from feeling like an expensive failure in my early career to propelling the diverse thinking that keeps our global company innovating.
2) I was the first Black anchor in the entire state. My 15-year journalism career also included gaining exclusive interviews with several of the world’s biggest names. As a Media and Storytelling Consultant, I now support entrepreneurs who have proven potential to be a household name.
3) I manage a multi-disciplinary team responsible for creating happiness in thousands of customer lives through marketing personalization experiences. From ideation, stakeholder management, and execution – leaders so touchingly say I’m unparalleled in setting the excellence bar.
4) I’m a 5X Award-winning writer who learned the art of storytelling from my grandmother, who raised seven children. As a Senior Editor and Manager, I give our dedicated global employees a unique sense of connection, meaning and belonging.
5) My life was transformed when someone advocated for me early in my career, and now I do it every day for others. As the Global Total Rewards Director, my team and I help employees do their best work and live their best lives.
Brands aren’t fixed. As you grow, so will your brand and your personal branding statement. Just ensure you don’t get left out by not communicating your story. The world of work is moving fast.
Rachel Montañez is a professional speaker, coach and advisor. Follow her on LinkedIn. Check out her website.
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