For many years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting talented individuals whose careers seemed destined for the fast track. Yet somewhere along the line, some of these people stalled. They stopped moving forward because they assumed that their hard work should speak for itself. In advertising parlance, they became Brand X instead of Brand Me.
With the myriad of pressures in the healthcare industry today, your coworkers are probably too busy to recognize your contributions, great as they may be. And like you, they may be waiting to receive kudos of their own.
Your ability to be proactive will serve you in the current business climate where, to some degree, we are all vulnerable and potentially expendable. Despite these magnified risks, we’re living and working in times of unprecedented opportunities.
You deserve to be in the driver’s seat of your career path, provided you are willing to embrace the concept of personal branding. Simply put, personal branding is the vehicle that allows you to differentiate yourself and create your value proposition.
Don’t wait to be picked. Instead:
1. Be principle-driven.
When your principles are clear, then decisions are easy. If you lead with your principles, then you will know where you stand and be able to walk away when something does not feel right.
Being principle-driven helps you distinguish yourself by defining when to say “no” to something. It is these principles upon which you will build your reputation. Make your boundaries clear, and do what you say you’ll do—that will inspire other people to see you as a role model and someone with whom they want to work.
2. Adopt authenticity with intention.
You hear a lot of talk now about the importance of being authentic. True authenticity demonstrates to others that you are intentional with your strategies and actions. An authentic personal brand is the most valuable asset you have. That personal brand is your reputation, and it becomes your legacy. Your behavior and actions must reflect who you are, not who you think other people want you to be.
3. Be seen as essential—not just relevant—to the business.
How do you measure your value to others? Whether you’re talking about management, stakeholders or customers, candidly assess your impact on others to better understand your value. Consider these questions: What tangible need do I fill for my employer or customer? How can I clearly demonstrate this value?
There is a huge difference between performing an important task and creating real value. Answering a need that others have identified, focusing your efforts on impacting the bottom line and contributing to your leadership’s vision are all considered win-wins for showcasing your value proposition.
4. Forget the past.
To differentiate yourself in today’s market, you have to adopt the mindset that what worked in the past no longer guarantees success in the present. We all need to be new and improved. This has nothing to do with age. The myth that the young bring the newest and best ideas is not always true. Often the most cutting-edge ideas come from seasoned experts who combine their considerable experience with a new perspective. Your ability to provide innovative ideas will be critical to your success and the perception of your overall value.
5. Stay visible.
Rather than just sharing your viewpoint in a meeting once every six months, strive for continuous visibility. The goal is to gain repeated exposure of your ideas and accomplishments in a manner that demonstrates your ability to help your boss and those you serve achieve their goals.
It’s like watching TV. The same commercials tend to repeat throughout a program because advertisers know that repeated exposure increases awareness. So, let people hear and see you. Promote what you are doing and what you can do to make your coworkers’ lives better.
In the end, distinguishing yourself takes discipline to find the opportunities, patience to wait until the right time to take action and the kindness of heart to support others in their greatness. This defines your value and helps you build a great reputation.
Choose your future. If you do nothing, you will be giving others permission to define your value and determine your roadmap.
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