“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett
How do you want people to remember you?
This question will be one of the many questions I asked in the leadership workshop. The moment someone mentioned your name, what will be the first few traits or identity that come into their minds? More positive or not so positive?
I believe that building your own leadership branding will take time and it’s a journey to be consistent and maintain a great brand. It also serves as a good reminder for us to ensure we are practicing what we are preaching. It all boils down to integrity.
“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford
Yes, another profound statement by Sir Henry Ford, intention alone may not be enough, we need to put into action should we choose to build our leadership brand.
The key areas to a great leadership branding, based on numerous interactions with leaders from around the region are as listed below;
Self-Leadership, leading others, emotional quotient, communication with others (the manner), how we make people feel after they have interacted with us…
One of the videos I have watched (introduced by one of the MNC leaders) mentioned the following process…
Character —> process —> results
Based on the process, the gain results and to sustain is to focus on the process. Once we get the process right (mastery and habits), the results will come automatically. Thus, to build our leadership branding, we need to work on how we are being, doing and getting it…
Our reputation and how we carry ourself when dealing with people (best is to stay true to ourselves), to strife by living your own brand (be comfortable in your own skin) and build good mindshare of others on you, and that is how I believe we can practice our differentiation (any how, we are unique).
How can we then work on building our leadership branding? We can make use of Deming’s PDCA model…
Plan, do, check, act
Plan; to me it means plan your own strategy and goals on your leadership branding.
Do; action and execution of your strategy and goals…
Check; what is the outcome from your action? How do you feel and what is the learning?
Act; fine-tune on the outcome and learning. It’s all in the details… a little bit goes a long way… the back to planning – setting your sight on your own improved version. Bigger and better… continuous improvement; Kaizen!
Recently while working on this leadership branding topic for my blog… I came across an article from Harvard Business Review;
The title of the article is as follows;
Define Your Personal Leadership Brand in Five Steps by Norm Smallwood
After reading it, I have picked up some good points that I would like to share with you… also my answers as example ?
1. What results do you want to achieve in the next year?
In the next 12 months, what would you like to see and experience with…
clients and partners;
My answer: Value in new approach, new topics, improved delivery
Own organisation;
My answer: Additional clients, new products, certification, partners
Community;
My answer: Serving with more CSR, charity,
Inspiring and developing leaders to reach their highest potential for God.
2. What do you wish to be known for?
Willingness to share, genuine and reliable
Innovative, ethical, fast and accurate
3. Define your identity
Dynamic, Integrity, Ownership, Nurturing
4. Construct your leadership brand statement, then test it.
“I want to be known for being ______________ so that I can deliver __________.”
I want to be known for being generous, ethical, dynamic, accountable so that I can deliver value to people that I served for the best memories of my life.
• Is this the brand identity that best represents who I am and what I can do?
• Is this brand identity something that creates value in the eyes of my organization and key stakeholders?
• What risks am I taking by exhibiting this brand? Can I live this brand?
5. Make your brand identity real
Being true to myself. Living my own legacy. Designing my own life as my leadership branding.
And my final thoughts,
Consistency is key.