Brand value

It’s a downturn, and though the impact is uneven, anxiety is widespread. In such times, continued employment is high on many a list of personal goals and many people wrongly think it’s time to hunker down and become unexceptional. In fact, the opposite is true. Blending into the competition won’t serve you well; quietly shining for something special you can offer your organisation may well safeguard your career.

At a time like this it essential that your take care of your personal brand. It is a good time to take stock of what you want to project about yourself and manage those perceptions.
So here are my ten most important personal branding tips for managing your brand in tough times.

1 Be yourself
Being authentic is a major factor in gaining trust. If people around you don’t feel they can trust you this will dilute your chances of staying in your role when redundancies are rife.
2 Know your strengths and project them
What do you bring to the table? Be clear about what you do and what you’re great at. Make every effort to focus your work on areas where you’re strong and be clear about your value.
3 Tone it down but keep your own style
Stand out a little in the way you dress, in a way that suits you and your environment. Do you look like you’re worth investing in for higher positions and greater exposure?
4 Define your target market
Manage your time effectively by spending time with influential people who will support you and help you reach career, business, and personal goals. You want to be prominent and visible to them.
5 Network effectively
Be seen. Building your personal brand awareness is crucial. If people don’t know who you are you’ll not be on their radar to recommend and refer so you could be missing out on opportunities.
6 Build your on-line visibility
Craft your online profile carefully. As well as Facebook and Linked In, think about having your own website [your name.com]. Think of it as an on-line CV. Prospects and potential employers would be impressed if they could Google you.

7 Keep in contact
It’s a bit manipulative yet these are demanding times. Revive contacts with colleagues and old friends. You never know when they might be able to refer you in the right places.
8 Stay positive
In grey times, stand out and be positive. Everyone likes to be around someone positive. Negative energy saps hope. Positive energy is uplifting. Be known for being positive.
9 Be remarkable
Don’t be afraid to be someone people notice. Be quietly assertive at the right times, and be strong and positive when others seem downbeat.
10 See current adversities as a big opportunity to shine
Some investors say this is the time to buy. I say this is the time to shine.

This article was written by Lesley Everett and is part of the Learning Academy, an online management learning website, provided by the Working Manager. AP subscribers receive discounts on The Learning Academy. For details contact Diana Barden.