Personal brand. Elevator pitch. Strapline for you. For some it comes easy, for others it gives serious ick. How to showcase you in either a new role or a networking situation where opportunities can be missed by wall flowering. First impressions do matter.
This blog will give you a go do list to strengthen how people perceive you as a leader.
I am mentoring an amazingly talented marketeer who is about to enter their first director SLT role.
For the business planning, we are flying. It is the usual, hit the ground running, look for quick wins, build the ladder to get to growth. We are building a framework to gather and analyse as this is a new role and new seat at the senior leaders table for the marketing function in this business.
We are working on the 3 As:
Absorb – land and learn as quick as you can. Learn the industry and market, but also the dynamics of your stakeholder group and the internal barriers or perceived barriers that need to be addressed. Gather every data set, no matter how it is captured, and see what you can get from a good AI big data mine.
Analyse – gather all that data and start to do 3 things 1. Gap analysis, what else do you need to know that you currently don’t. 2. Quick win and burning issues detection. What is working that you can scale, where are the Quick fixes, what’s on fire. 3. Stakeholder mapping. Who is who, what are their pains and gains, what’s important to them that this new role will own.
Act – get the quick wins in play and start the ball rolling on the big problems that will unlock opportunity. Start to prioritise and balance your time 80% working on strategy, 20% breaking down to tasks for execution. Set out your stall as a function and get them used to the key role marketing will play.
Sounds simple right. So why does it not always work?
We have a window of influence when we first come in to a business.
Our share of voice is high until we become the norm. Setting out your stall for you and how your division connects with stakeholders is the difference between cycles of success and stratrgic growth, or ending up with marketing as the ‘we tried it’ catch all for everything people dont understand. If your in charge of things that are not marketing, running the secret santa or the tea towel ordering, you might have to rethink your personal brand as a marketer.
Personal branding is as important as your skill set.
Here are some home truths to ponder.
If you dont tell them what your strengths are, there is a good chance they will underestimate your ability.
Folks can’t measure what they dont have experience of. You will be the only senior marketer so you need to show them what that is and how you will work. Otherwise they will make it work for them.
There is no one but you to make the decision. So decide.
Showing indecisive behaviour will reduce your impact as a leader. Stepping up to be the SLT spike for marketing means you are the decision-making person and need to own that from day one.
Language is important. Don’t apologise for taking up space.
How we speak and write influences how we are seen. But our body language tells the truth. The further away from our brain, the less we control our body and its behaviour. Be consciously present.
Take your space and own it. Posture and open body language shows confidence.
Write and speak with definite, not indefinite. So no apologies for anything you say or write, no soft language like ‘I think we should…..’
Share your values and use them to steer. Align them to those of the business.
https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2024/aug/language-of-leadership
The to do list to build a personal brand
What do you want to be known for. When you meet somone for the first time, or join a meeting, how will you introduce yourself. Define what that superpower is and tell everyone.
What’s Your Superpower?https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-your-superpower-laura-burge?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&utm_campaign=share_via
Know your values. Share them. And live by them. This enables you to be authentic and help pepple understand how you will show up.
https://reflection.ed.ac.uk/reflectors-toolkit/self-awareness/values
Summarise your CV in 20 seconds. Showcase your expertise in a top line way that shows why you are there at that table.
Practice. Consistently show up as that person for 6 weeks to help it stick.
Broadcast. Take part. Write a blog, join a networking group. Sign up to present your work. Be visible.
Know where you want to end up. Next CEO? Consultant to SMEs? Board member and advisor?
Tell everyone where you want to go. It is these people who will help get you there.
Personal branding is important at any stage of your career. Invest time in defining you.
Leave a comment