Workplace Challenges
Branding yourself in the work worldYou never get a second chance to make a good first impression. That's why it is so important to get it right the first time. ELLEN GOLDHAR |
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 [ 2005-03-16 ] |
There are moments throughout our career where how we "show up" are of utmost importance. It might be a job interview, a presentation to the senior management team, or a lucrative sales call. The situation is irrelevant. What is relevant is what image we've left behind.
Having superb technical skills isn't necessarily enough to move you ahead anymore - having above average interpersonal skills, communication skills, networking skills, business etiquette, personal image (dress, grooming, body language, etc.), and even dining skills is what's important.
In other words, being personally effective is just as important as being technically effective.
Consider this commonplace scenario. One job opening and two technically qualified employees. Employee A is introverted, keeps to himself, comes in does his work and then leaves for the day, rarely goes to the office social events and his dress is on the slobbish side. Employee B is well liked, always dresses neat and polished, a good presenter and takes time getting to know the employees/clients within the company.
Guess who gets the job? Exactly, employee B.
"Just being technically brilliant isn't enough anymore. It's about branding, personal leadership and creating a reputation for making things happen," says consultant Roz Usheroff, president of the Usheroff Institute and a leading communications and image specialist.
Chances are, if you called up any image consultant they would speak to you about the concept of "branding." But that's not branding yourself with an iron, it's branding yourself with an image.
"Celebrities have adopted product and service branding attributes for their 'personas'. Madonna is becoming the 'tough girl' of pop music quite unlike the persona she started with. While celebrities might use personal branding to create a new character, people like us can use personal branding to project our real best attributes," says Usheroff.
Which résumé faux pas have you been guilty of?