Perception… the one thing that is definitely impacting your opportunities and successes and not only in your business or at work but also in your personal life…Why do I say this? Because believe it or not sometimes the smartest, most hardworking or even brilliant person doesn’t always win the prize. If scientific formulas were behind today’s achievers then this would be different but the ladder to success involves people and people are not always predictable or fair in their decision making. Every day people make assumptions about you and about your job or business based on what they perceive before you ever have a chance to say anything. Image consultants base their jobs on this and they get good business from anyone who has come to understand this idea and use it strategically to build up their personal brand.
Personal branding…here is another topic we could write books about…and it is closely linked with this idea of perception. People, like products, have a natural brand. Your brand is the sum of how the market perceives you - your actions and your behaviors. As you build your career or business, you can choose to ‘go with the flow’ or create a conscious, strategic, personal brand.
So how do you go about evaluating the perceptions around you and what your personal brand is about? You can simply start by asking the people closest to you what they think about you – ask them your strengths, your weaknesses, how you handle various situations etc. In the workplace, you can try the same – but only with colleagues that you have cultivated meaningful friendships with, and those that can also be honest with you. You can also take a first step simply by becoming conscious of what you project to the people you do business with….if you’re happy with the results then you’re good to go! Otherwise you can choose what aspects you need to change – for example, if you think you’re not getting enough leadership opportunities or opportunities that can help you get into management roles, ask yourself what you can do to change this perception. You could start by evaluating your dress code – most people in management dress formally – or also becoming more aggressive in your job, taking the initiative such that everyone begins to perceive you as the ‘go-to’ person / the decision maker. You can also think about simple things such as your email and phone etiquette – are you professional in the way you communicate? What perception does your language and tone create about you? Remember - you can be popular at work for all the wrong reasons.
At the end of the day, personal branding and perception requires some conscious and strategic decisions on your part – but I believe they are well worth the result. And also keep in mind that whether you choose to be strategic and aware or not – people’s perceptions are still at work, you have a personal brand out there whether you know it or not!
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