Your Leadership Brand: An Asset Or Liability?

Many things influence a leadership brand. Yes, it’s certainly created by your achievements. But it’s more subtle that that.

Your leadership brand is formed by your behavior, body language, speaking style and even appearance. Simply stated, your brand is the image others have about you as a result of the impressions you make on them.

What Messages Are You Sending to Others?

Consider these questions, from the Center of Creative Leadership, to better understand the messages you are sending:

1. How do people form their opinions of me?
   Do they know you by reputation, through long-term relationships or via occasional contact? This is particularly important in today’s geographically dispersed organizations where technical and operations staff spends a limited time with senior managers who may not get the full picture of your goals and capabilities.

2. Do I consider both the” what” and the” how”?

   You may spend a lot of time preparing and polishing your message. But all that information is interpreted in the context of how you say something. .If you’ve just announced a major change, employees are not likely to retain all the details. They will remember and react to your attitude and behavior. Based on the image you present, they will believe, “it’s just another flavor of the month” or “He’s really excited about this new system.”

3. Do I give an accurate picture of who I am?
   In the absence of solid information and frequent communication, people often make assumptions. Without credible information and personal insight about you, people may reach erroneous conclusions. So, do you know how people see you, think about you, relate to you?

4. Do I connect on a personal level?

   Your brand is often interpreted and evaluated through the lens of personal preference. It is greatly influenced by your communication style and your ability to adapt your style to others. How well do you read others so that you can effectively communicate with them?

Smart Moves Tip:

A leadership brand communicates your identity, your distinctiveness and the value you offer. If you have a weak or wrong brand, you will have a much harder time in influencing and impacting others. Working on your brand is not about faking anything. It’s about surfacing and polishing behaviors and skills that allow you to enhance your leadership credibility and effectiveness.