Personal Branding For Media & Creative Professionals

How do you bring who you are, to what you do?

It's commonly said that these days, particularly in Creative and Media roles, just having the technical skill, appropriate training, or experience is not enough. Cultural fit, character, values, and a stack of other personal attributes are all elements that contribute to professional progress.

So what is it that you do, and you bring to your role that's different from anyone else?

What is it that is authentic to you, that you communicate and deliver consistently?

This is your Personal Brand at work, literally.

It's the little things, and the big things that set you apart and create the lasting impression people have of you and what you're capable of. It's these things that come to mind when people are asked to recommend someone for a job, a promotion, or an industry award.

To truly leverage your Personal Brand you must do three things:

Discover - 

What is it that you want to be known for ?

What are the words you want people to use to describe you?

What roles and responsibilities do you want people to believe you are capable of?

Define -

Your Brand is not what you want it to be, it's what other people say it is...

So what is it that people actually think and say about you? Not just your mum and your best mate who will just tell you all the good stuff - what about people who work with you, or interact with you on a professional basis?

What do they think of, when they think of you?

Develop -

Your Brand is not a one time event, it's a living, breathing, ever evolving, intangible being and because of that you must manage it.

If you don't manage it, then it will continue to grow [or wither away to nothing] on its own.

Not managing it means your Brand and reputation is likely to either be something different than what you are intending, or you are missing out on progress simply because you are not leveraging the opportunities that exist.

If you are an ambitious professional start considering how you can make the most of your most precious commodity - your brand.