360 Your Personal Brand
“Creating your personal brand is about knowing yourself, understanding others around you, and developing the skills to show it off.”
Whether you realize it or not, you have a personal brand.
It's the version of you that people see each day and how that makes them feel about you.
Your brand is not just the way you dress. It's how you walk, talk, speak and show up.
In the corporate world, a process called the 360 review is used to evaluate employees. A person's behavior is considered with the feedback of those above, below, and around them.
I'm going to teach you how to use a similar, holistic process so that you can see how others around you see you.
Then let's create your stunning personal brand.
We tend to have a blind spot when considering how we appear to others. We worry so much about offending people that we miss our opportunity to rise.
People's perception of us can make a difference in getting a job or promotion, attracting and keeping a partner, and getting what we want out of any particular interaction.
So get quiet for a tiny second, and ask yourself this question:
How do you want others to perceive you?
Write your answers down.
Now let's display yourself as that person with three actionable steps:
Show up with your body.
Dress to both fit in and stand out.
Skillfully communicate with others.
How you show up with your body.
Let's talk about how to bring yourself on to the scene.
No matter whom you are interacting with, you are their equal. You are two valuable human beings. Neither is greater nor lesser, and we need one another. Check yourself for being either too aggressive or passive. And be confident.
Be strong. Stand up straight and pull your shoulders back. Now pull your chest up and contract your abs right under your rib cage.
Face them. Now squarely face whoever you are talking with and look them in the eye. You don't have to stare them down; just give them your full attention.
How to dress to fit in and stand out.
Dress for your environment + dress for you = success.
The culture we are in will dictate how we dress. When I worked in tech, jeans and a tee-shirt were uniform. In Austin or Portland, anything goes. The financial industry is conservative. Live in a Muslim country? You'll need to cover up more.
This is one of my favorite ads ever and says it all:
But you also need to stand out and get noticed. Think: what makes you unique? Own it and wear it proudly.
I remember as a young girl noticing a particular woman.
She was everything advertising made us feel we shouldn't be: big, bold, and proud. She dressed her curvy body with bright colors and let her unruly hair all hang out, and I thought, "I want to be just like her."
It takes confidence in who you and where you are going to buck the culture. I'd suggest you start by adding pieces.
The way you communicate with others.
You can be Einstein smart, but if you can't quickly process what is being said to you, know what you believe, and articulate both, you will not gain the respect of those around you.
Focused thinking predicates speaking well with others. There are two ways to sharpen your mind to process information quickly.
Practice mindfulness to your thoughts until you can name them instantly.
Understand the theory of Mentalization, which is the ability to hold your position in mind while also fully considering another's.
Sharpening our minds is a life-long practice. Nootropics are supplements people take to help them focus. Getting enough sleep and limiting caffeine and alcohol will also help.
Once your mind is clear and can process what you are thinking while also understanding what someone else is saying, communicating with others will be a breeze.
Creating your personal brand is about knowing yourself, understanding others around you, and developing the skills to show it off. Make it a fun time of exploration and self-improvement. And don't be afraid of input--take what is constructive and leave what doesn't suit you.
"[Tami Green's] encouragement to others to expect positive results...is to be applauded."
— DR. JOHN GUNDERSON, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL