SVA Forum

[dawnjlane]

Hi everyone

I was reading the theme about logos and thought about personal branding and how important it is.

How do you see your personal branding? Do you carry it through with you in all aspects of your job, business life and social life?

I did a presentation on Personal Branding for college a few weeks ago and think that it is really important. After all YOU are your business and if you don't carry YOUR brand with you in everything you do in your work/social life then it could be costing you clients and ultimately money.

I was inspired by a lady called Lesley Everett http://www.lesleyeverett.com and her Walking Tall - 7 Steps book.

If personal branding is important to you, or you haven't really thought about it and would like to know more, go to Lesley's website and see what she has to say. If you would like to see what I did for college, email me and I will send you a copy of my presentaion.
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Dawn Lane VAcertified MAMS MInstAM
Your Office Online - www.your-office-online.co.uk
Virtual Business in a Box Ltd - www.virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk
dawn@your-office-online.co.uk
dawn@virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk

[OfficeStuff]

Living where I do, where everyone knows everybody's business and everyone else, personal branding is VERY important. It is one of the reasons why I am not a member of the "getting rat-arsed on a Friday and Saturday night in the local pubs" club, and why I am very choosy about where I am seen and what I say.

People have long memories for others' embarrassing moments and these cloud the judgements that are made about you. So yes, personal branding is extremely important if you want to be thought of as professional, and knowledgeable, and generally a good person to know.

I dress dependant upon where I am - if at home it's comfortable clothes. If I'm on site, it's smart or casual depending on how dirty the client's premises are! When I'm meeting new clients or networking, I dress smartly, but don't power dress as that would put off people around here. It's horses for courses really, and I enjoy the variety. But I never lose touch with how I want people to perceive me and therefore Office Stuff.

I'd be very interested to see a copy of your presentation if you'd like to send me a personal email.
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Carole Meyrick
Office Stuff
Perfectly Practical Office Support

[janet]

I'd not considered this subject in this way before but I admit the term puts me off a bit; sounds like another piece of management-speak. Lesley's website talks about 'packaging' yourself which sounds worse. Perhaps I have misunderstood. I can certainly see the sense in what Carole is saying.

Here's how I might phrase it. Rather than packaging myself for the sake of my business I'd rather be known for integrity - ie: having an integrated life, not compartmentalising it: aiming to be the same person in my business as I am at home and with my friends and at church and anywhere else.

Is that personal branding? Perhaps you'd better send me your presentation, Dawn! (And thanks!)
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Janet

[Sally@Stonetext]

Personally I'd rather not have my thoughts led thank you very much.

If you try to be something that you're not, you will be found out. If she told you that your dress sense was rubbish you'd listen to her because you've spent a fortune hiring her - if Maisie down the road told you the same thing you wouldn't listen to her, even if it was true because you're comfortable how you are. It all comes down to the consultant theme we were discussing and how we perceive the "value" of what we're being told. (You in this context refers to people generally, not you personally Dawn.)

Inspirational speakers are a joy to listen to no matter what the subject is. I think it is just a reflection on the poor state of public speaking that we are routinely exposed to.
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Sally
Stonetext Online Admin Services www.stonetext.co.uk
Spida Web & Graphic Design www.spidawebdesign.co.uk

Please help to support SVA by donating to: http://tinyurl.com/37urec

[dawnjlane]

Sally

It's not about having your thoughts led or even just about dress sense but more about thinking of your business and you as one. As Carole says its about making sure that YOU are your business and first impressions counting. It only takes secons (30 apparently) for a person to make a decision about you when meeting for the first time and if that person is a potential client you need to make a good impression.

Now I am all for 'what you see is what you get' but if you are telling a client you are a professional, offering a professional service which will turn his business around, you have to 'walk the walk and talk the talk' so to speak. If turning up inappropriately dressed for a meeting, not answering the phone in a professional manner (even if you are feeling under the weather, the kids/hubby is playing up) then it could cost you business.

The services we offer clients means that we are not only our own branding but also theirs. If we don't look/act/speak/perform the professional, why would they want us to represent their business?

Personal branding, whether in business or not, I think is very important and was actually something that was imprinted in me as a school girl, Wren and now as a business women. At school where ever we were/whatever we were doing we were ambassadors for the school and by wearing uniform, easily identified. my school was an all girls grammar and had very high standards which it expected all of us to attain and maintain - personal branding for the school. The same with the Wrens - if we acted out of place/got ourselves a 'name' as a party girl - the whole of the Navy knew and you were identified in a particular way - personal branding again.

Integrity is very important but there are times when how you behave with family and friends (mainly behind closed doors) is not how you would wnat your business colleagues/peers to see you. Getting drunk at the awards ceremony may be a way of enjoying your success but if seen by a client, what image does this give?

All food for thought and obviously my own opinion on presonal branding.

Dawn
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Dawn Lane VAcertified MAMS MInstAM
Your Office Online - www.your-office-online.co.uk
Virtual Business in a Box Ltd - www.virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk
dawn@your-office-online.co.uk
dawn@virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk

[Sally@Stonetext]

Whole-heartedly agree. This is how I conduct myself and (naively) expect everyone else who runs their own business to operate. Brought up in a family that runs their own business so I suppose it has been ingrained from an early age. I have to agree that not everyone adheres to or understands the concept.

I think what I have an issue with is how the concept is presented. To describe yourself as a "thought-leader" is somewhat presumptuous - very English reaction to an American-style presentation I suppose.

There are plenty of barriers in this world to achieving success - finding someone who shows you how to mentally push these negatives aside and focus on achieving your goals is very liberating.
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Sally
Stonetext Online Admin Services www.stonetext.co.uk
Spida Web & Graphic Design www.spidawebdesign.co.uk

Please help to support SVA by donating to: http://tinyurl.com/37urec

[janet]

If it's true that some people need to be taught the principles of behaving themselves in public and dressing appropriately for the occasion, I'm amazed and now understand why consultants can be so successful despite only really advising basic commonsense which most of us think is obvious! Or do I just sound like the fortysomething I am?!

I think people should behave themselves in public anyway, for the sake of simple personal respect, rather than just for their business. And, although often failing miserably at home, I really do aim to be consistent in all areas of my life. What we are on the inside will always at some point show on the outside.

Essential to be professional, but even better to be professional and as real as we can possibly be.
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Janet

[caroline]

I do think that sometimes people forget that how they act reflects on their business. Things like not barging to the food at networking events, being genuinely interested in what other people are saying, not talking during presentations etc.

Personally I do tend to look like something the cat dragged in but do scrub up nicely should the occasion require it!!!

To quote Calpurnia from To Kill A Mocking Bird "Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets"