[Repurposed and tweaked a bit from 2016]: Remaining relevant in a world where there is a constant onslaught of information is difficult at best. I have been listening to a number of podcasts recently, reading a number of articles and books and trying to jump ahead of the curve on relevancy. I also noticed a few folks advocating personal branding and realized I had a few thoughts on this topic too. While I believe that relevancy begins at your core, and you must believe you are relevant (because inherently we all are) though that is not what I'm here to write about in today; the reality is that there are certain items that can assist you professionally that we all neglect or take for granted from time to time.
Take a hard look at yourself from a professional standpoint. Do you deliver professionally? Do you take great pains to be on time? Are you known for your timeliness? Not just in terms of being on time to meetings but in meeting deliverable timetables? In putting together this blog, I realize that I don't blog nearly enough. There really should be a regular cadence in which I post. People probably wonder where I go for months at a time and I've decided to cut myself some slack on that but the reality is, if you write, write with frequency, if you publish a newsletter, publish at the same time each week. When you take time to reach out to others, do so in a manner where they know they can expect to hear from you and they know you will be there - they aren't left to wonder.
Are your social media pages up-to-date? Is your LinkedIn profile and your twitter page professional? I don't tweet a lot; I use LinkedIn, but for those who use both, make sure the image that is conveyed is polished, that there are no gaping holes, that someone else has reviewed the information and that your point comes across. This is how the world sees you - and it's your first impression. Knock their socks off!
And for me, the best piece of advice is to be authentic. This is, in my opinion, how true relevancy is established. Don't try to be anything other than who you are. My clients and stakeholders generally know that I will always ask how they are doing but that I will also always end an e-mail with..."please let me know if you have any questions or concerns"...no matter how stuffy that may seem. It's my personal style and it's part of who I am. It's my brand. Now, what is yours? And I'm a hugger. Yes, I will shake your hand but I am a hugger and I don't apologize for it. Germaphobes beware and be forewarned - I will hug you if you will allow it. I am like Olaf in that way; I love hugs. Is this odd? Maybe. But I have found that it is memorable. I have a big personality so I while I have reigned it in over time; I have also developed it, honed it and owned it. This big personality makes me passionate about the work I do and the research I deliver.
And might I suggest, while I am at it, that you listen to a daily podcast on your way to work to get your mindset ready for the day from a productivity or efficiency standpoint. Or, consider signing up for a short daily leadership blog that will simply allow you to remember that your contributions today make a difference. Be passionate about the work you do and it will shine through. Others will notice. I'm sure this will motivate and inspire you as you consider other ways to personalize your own branding. I would love to hear more about your ideas about personal branding. Let me know how this is working for you when you have a time...and, by all means, "if you have questions or concerns, feel free to let me know!" Pun intended.