Develop your personal branding

This post came out from The Straits Times (15 April 2016)
Title - Develop your personal branding

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Extract what you want your personal brand to say about you
2. Express the right outlook and professional image
3. Exude good manners in your interactions with others
4. Engage your audience through various channels
5. Excite others to leave a lasting positive impression

On Extract what you want your personal brand to say about you

• It is important to align your values and vision, passion and purpose, and strengths and skills in life according to how you would like to brand yourself at work.
• Doing a personal assessment on your values and crafting out your personal brand statement to be successful in one's business is crucial. Top sales professionals create their brand strategy plan to make sure that their personal brands are translated correctly to their target audiences.

On express the right outlook and professional image

• After you have created your personal branding statement, projecting the right image in terms of dressing and presentation is next.
• Packaging determines the first impression. Dress your part and create the kind of image you would like others to have of you. Your image has an impact on people's impressions of you, and therefore affects your sales results. 

On Exude good manners in your interactions with others

• As the saying goes "Manners maketh a man", the next thing that you should be looking at to power up your personal branding is to demonstrate the appropriate business etiquette and corporate protocol. 
• Do you want to project yourself as a well-respected and well-mannered working professional, or a confident and dynamic sales personnel? Practise your mannerisms to project your personal brand correctly. 

On Engage your audience through various channels

• Marketing your personal brand to the world with a clear and consistent plan through the various communication channels is vital to transmit the right brand message. 
• Utilising the five vocal factors in conversations, displaying the right body language and sharing appropriate posts on various platforms will eventually translate your desired brand message effectively to your prospects and clients.

On Excite others to leave a lasting positive impression

• Lastly, try to excite the people you meet by creating an emotional link with them. Let your charisma charm everyone you meet. In doing so, people will remember you vividly for the brand that you have created for yourself. This will enhance your work and sales performance.

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big