3 Subtle Personal Branding Saboteurs

If you are visible, add massive value, and people come to you for help, but they still pass you up for promotion or business, there may be subtle personal branding saboteurs that if you tweak, could change the game for you.

Subtle Personal Branding Saboteur #1

Phoniness

Does personal branding make you feel like there is an invisible voice hidden behind the curtain directing you, "Lights, Camera, Action!"?

If you feel phony profiling and positioning your personal brand as the go-to expert in your field, then you are likely to want to hide, or downplay your role and achievements - you think it's taking on a persona and putting on a show.

Let me lay your prejudice, I mean, fear, 😉 to rest; you don't have to pretend to be who you are not, start speaking with an accent or dress like a stiff. Be who you are, speak as you do, and dress well, but never out of character. It is, after all, your personal brand - stay original.

The opposite is also true, if you are pretending to be who you are not, or heaven forbid, impersonating someone else, people will see right through that and wonder why you are putting so much effort into being disingenuous. And they will stay away.

Remember this: No one can do you like you do you!

Be you. Do you. Always. That's your superpower.

Subtle Personal Branding Saboteur #2

Passion

Would you say that you are passionate about what you do and contagious in your communication of the amazing solutions you bring? (Introverts, calm down. I am not asking anyone to turn into a loud, fast-talking salesperson (shout out to all salespeople everywhere, we salute you!)).

I am asking whether, when someone speaks to you, about work or, life in general, they get the impression that you have something great to offer that you believe in and want others to join in on.

if you don't believe in yourself and what you have to offer enough to be passionate about it, why should anyone else?

“Science shows that passion is contagious, literally. You cannot inspire others unless you are inspired yourself”

-Carmine Gallo.

Subtle Personal Branding Saboteur #3

People Pleasing

Inherent in personal branding is the decision to narrowly define and focus on speaking to a niche audience. That means you are not speaking to everyone.

Does the idea of not serving everyone make you feel uncomfortable? Does it make you feel rude and uppity? If it does, you may be mistaking the processes of personal branding and making friends.

You can be as warm and friendly as you want to be as a person. But as far as positioning to your Ideal Client is concerned, you are to so tailor your message to them as to leave no doubt in their minds that you are speaking directly to them and to their problem, specifically.

Business brands do this all the time with their products, you must do the same with your personal brand.

Let go of people-pleasing. You cannot pursue and try to please everyone when you want to distinguish yourself from all the rest.

Remember, “Personal branding is your intentional, ongoing effort to create the image of yourself as a Trusted Solution Provider in the mind of your Ideal Client”

-Modesta Mahiga

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