building a professional image
TRANSCRIPT
Building a Professional Image (personal brand)
Brad Nickel [email protected] http://captivacomunications.com
What is your image of a CEO?
http://youtu.be/4YBxeDN4tbk Click to watch the video
Is this professional?
What should a professional image class be about?
Why / when is image important?
Branding does not have to be fake or inauthentic
Branding can be real...
What is your image for these brands? Why? What do others think?
What is your image for these brands? Why? What do others think?
Write down what you perceive about the following images.
Do you think your initial perception matches up with who they actually are or perceive themselves to be?
What is an image?
What is professional?
Define your image: Write 5 descriptions of how you think you are perceived now and 5 more relevant to how you want to be perceived in 10 years.
Do you think your perceptions match up with your best friend's perception of you? Boss? Co-workers? The clerk at the convenience store? Does it matter? Is your perception more accurate than theirs?
What would mom say?
Really. What would your Mom say her image is of you?
What doesn't she know?
How ridiculous is it that we live our lives based on silly perceptions... when every perception is different?
To perceive is to suffer.
Aristotle
Now, what do you want your image to be?
Why?
Who are you?
• Father
• VP of Marketing
• Teacher
• Husband
• Outspoken
• Crazy
• Loving
• Pretty Fearless
• Great Boss
• Horrible Boss
• Mean
• Silly
• Loud
• Leader
• Follower
• Strong
Is it possible for us to "build a professional image"?
Is it possible for us to "build a professional image"?
What can make you appear professional?
• The work you do and how your do it
• Your appearance
• How you speak
• Your writing skills
• How you handle stress
• Presentation skills
• Certifications / Degrees
• Ethics
• Manners
• Mannerisms
• Loyalty
It's all about
PERCEPTIONS
We spend most of our lives worrying about what other
people think about us.
How are perceptions formed?
First Perceptions can be lasting
Components of first impressions
Gender
Age
Appearance
Body Movement
Personal Space
Touch
The words you say
What is a perception?
• An opinion based on
• appearance
• past action
• gossip / opinions of others
• Culture
• Bias
• Prejudice
What can impact perception?
• Culture
• Bias
• Prejudice
How do you build "Brand You"?
• Many of us start with appearance:
• Professional wardrobe
• Hair
• Weight
Ultimately its on us• Reality
• Who are you?
• Rather than build an image, you can be a professional
• Ethics, value, demeanor
• Must come from within
We can all smell a rat• People that refuse a trust
relationship
• People who manipulate situations to their advantage all the time
• People who are more worried about their image than the actual work they do
Once you play the perception/image game, it can be difficult to quit.
How can you "build" a professional image?
Solid, but not elaborate
(don't create extra work) appearance
Hard work but don't
work hard
What do you do... best?
Resumes
Resumes
Skills / Bio
Skills / Bio
Online branding
• Work all of them
• Relationships = opportunity
• LinkedIn recommendations
• Give to get
• Reuse in other ways
• Testimonials with you as product
Get a blog - now SEO, Profile, Learn, Be The Expert
My resume is lacking...
Identify what accomplished
Break the job down into tasks
What did you create or fix?
How have you led (job or other)
Interviews - What will you do for them?
• Who are they
• What is their motivation to hire
• How can you help them improve - positively
• How long have they been there
Deliver on promises and commitments
Under-promise Over-deliver
There will ALWAYS be obstacles to overcome and people to get onboard(or go around).
Being a hero doesn't mean being unrealistic.
Double(at least) every time estimate
Speak your mind, but professionally and
with compassion
Offer help with no strings attached
Be genuine and honest
We live driven by our EGO, but how much is up to us.
We spend most of our lives worrying about what other people think about us.
Imagine how much better life would be... If you could turn it off. You can't, but you can see your perceptions and thoughts and slow them and reduce their impact. Watch.
The secret is that we usually are nothing like what we think we project...
Fear is only a thought and emotion
Try everything and anything
http://youtu.be/4YBxeDN4tbk Click to watch video
You got the gig... Now what
Communications
Anger Management
The #1 gig/relationship killer - useless
Admit mistakes when they happen
Exit gracefully (no matter what)
Every relationship matters and can help or haunt you later
Be the perception you want people to see
Brad Nickel [email protected] http://captivacommunications.com 305-297-2466