Think about the last time you were asked to give a brief introduction of yourself
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It could very well have been across a screen, given the pandemic stint. How did you go about it? Did it come to you naturally? Were you only able to deliver half of the introduction because you choked on the rest? Did you just blandly use your job title in the introduction? Or worse, ONLY used your job title for describing who you are?
Whatever approach you went for, my wild guess is that you quickly fizzled out and the rest of it can be a bit of a blur. It might also be that you failed to tug at people’s memories after the conversation ended, for the simple reason that it might have been generalized and not unique enough to be memorable.
This is where I would like to suggest you craft a unique and crisp personal branding statement that defines who you are in a catchy way, making people remember you long enough after you have left the building (or logged out of whichever meeting app that was in use).
The goal is to create a striking first impression and leave behind a ‘piece of you’ that invokes an affirmative response in the other person’s mind.
How do successful personal branding statements work?
Your personal branding statement is simply a catchphrase that flaunts your area of expertise, without sounding cocky, and highlights what makes you unique.
Last month, Najat, a very dear friend of mine from Paris requested my help in crafting a compelling personal branding statement for her.
As I knew her on a personal level and was well aware of her area of expertise, I helped highlight the unique trait that gives her a competitive edge. We finalized one phrase that accurately summed up her work forte while blending it with her passions. It essentially underlined her unique selling proposition and at the same time being catchy, attention-grabbing and the most important consequence we are hoping for after an introduction: being memorable.
However, what struck me was the question that came after we had finished drafting her personal branding statement.
She asked me, “Where can I use this statement? Is it something which is restricted to my professional domain?”
Well, it was a question worth mulling over.
On which occasions can you use your personal branding statement?
I feel that you should not restrict your personal branding statement to your professional domain. It can be used whether you are a freelancer, entrepreneur, job seeker or even a prospective date. Anyone trying to network can present themselves with a unique brand statement that can help you to stand out from the rest of the crowd. It should be able to climb over the walls of your professional boundaries and flourish in many important avenues of your life.
You should not have to hide behind your company if you are an entrepreneur. According to Forbes, when CEOs use social media to showcase their own personalities associated with their brand, 77 per cent of the buyers are more likely to make a purchase. Take the beauty mogul Kylie Jenner for example. She uses personal branding so effectively to boost the sales of her brand Kylie Cosmetics.
So coming back to the question, here is a list of occasions in which you can use your personal brand statement to gain a competitive edge.
1. At a Networking event when you encounter Musk
Imagine you’re at a networking event and Elon Musk comes to you and introduces himself as the crazy man of the century who is known for lacking the ability to give up after failures. How do you introduce yourself? “Hi, I am Jack and I am an interior designer.”? Instead, why don’t you try saying something like, “Hi, I am Jack? I am the stylist your house calls when it needs a makeover.”
The key is to deliver a catchy statement that demands further conversation instead of blandly stating what you do and therefore bringing the conversation to a dead end. Networking events are important and it does not matter if you are not feeling as confident as you want to sound. Rely on the old adage, “fake it till you make it” and soon you’ll be an expert at delivering your personal brand statement successfully.
2. When on Bumble (since Dating Apps are the New Black)
I had once come across someone’s profile that stated, “Will AI be taking over the world? I can give you the behind the scenes on this one.” He worked in the field of Artificial Intelligence and I knew it would turn out to be a fun evening with interesting conversation.
Whether it is an ice-breaker or you want the meeting to develop into a lasting friendship or even a partnership, an interesting personal brand statement can serve as a great platform for interesting conversation and help you steer clear of a disastrous encounter and keep the conversation going.
3. Job seeking (Making the Recruiters’ hunt worthwhile)
In today’s cut-throat world, it is important to build yourself into an appealing brand that helps attract new opportunities. You have to think of yourself as a brand and define your own vision, mission and USP if you want prospective companies to consider you. Create a compelling online presence around your catchy brand statement, showcasing your self-awareness regarding your skills, talents and passions. This will make sure that you not only fall on the radar of recruiters but also that they would want to interview you.
4. Job interviews (When actually in the arena)
Say, you managed to use your brand statement and landed an interview, even in the times of the pandemic.
Now, what do you do?
A consistent personal brand helps potential recruiters know that you are goal-oriented and are in possession of a focused strategy for achieving your professional goals.
The statement acts as your free marketing tool, like your own billboard that is updating it consistently. But it is easier to update it on paper and online than it is to introduce it in an interview. But you must not shy away from doing so. Find a way to bring it up and use it as a platform to focus the conversations around, and soon you will be standing out from the rest of the interviewees.
In conclusion
Keep an open mind while crafting your personal branding statement. Don’t be scared of being fluid with it, updating it according to the occasion. Remember, your personal brand statement is just a quirky, witty and fun extension of you. It is a part of who you are, and what you do.
Start using it in different scenarios in your life, and you are guaranteed to experience positive changes and growth in your life. Don’t just wait for situations to crop up where you can use it, create them.
