There’s a lot being said these days about developing your personal brand and how doing so will help you stand out from your career competition. But, just how does one go about doing this personal branding thing? After all, companies like Google, eBay, Microsoft and loads more all have herds of people developing and ensuring brand messaging and continuity. So, where do you start (without having your own herd) and just what type of personal brand do you want? Should you just throw on a new suit and don a new ‘do’? Sure those things always help, but it really has to begin at a much deeper level in order to develop a true and lasting personal brand.

One place to start is by learning more about yourself and how you function in different environments and with different people. Taking a look at your unique inner style and attributes will enable you to decide how best to portray and utilize them for your personal brand. It’s important to know your preferences because in the ‘knowing’ you can the do the ‘building’ of your brand.

There are a number of assessments that can help you discover more about yourself. One in particular is the very popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). If you haven’t taken this well-liked and highly creditable test then I suggest you do. It is best to take this test through someone who is certified in the process. You really will get much more from it than trying to take some ‘quick fix’ version. You may have to cough up the price of the test and consult, but it is well worth it. If you would like some MBTI referral sources email me at www.coach@firedupcareers.com and I can provide you with some.

Once you’ve taken the assessment, I highly recommend a book for you called YOU: Being More Effective In Your MBTI Type by Roger R. Pearman, Michael M. Lombardo and Robert W. Eichinger. This book is a jewel for people who want to grow and enhance their skills, as well as understand how they interact with others. It has great tips and advice on how to be more effective in your work and also provides loads of information on solving interaction problems. Here’s the link where you will find the book: http://www.lominger.com/67_you.html Another good source of reading for MBTI is the book, Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger. This book is available on Amazon.com.

In a nutshell, finding out more about yourself and how you function will be your guiding compass in creating your personal brand. It will help you tell people: Here is my value; here is who I am, what I can do for you and how we can work together. You will then be able to align yourself with your company and walk-the-talk by ‘who you are’. You will take a much more authentic approach to what you do. You will be able to state your claim, as well as express and deliver on what you stand for. By gaining clarity around yourself you’ll show up in a way that goes way beyond a new suit – believe me!

Posted by Robin Ogden - FiredUP Careers

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