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Repost Series: Crafting Your Personal Brand in the Corporate Setting
9 Plays3 months ago
Intro: 00:15 - 01:50
Shannara introduces the topic of personal branding in the corporate setting, reflecting on her recent realization of the importance of formally defining her personal brand.
Defining Personal Brand: 02:00 - 04:50
Shannara discusses her definition of personal branding, emphasizing its significance in the professional world, especially for women, and how it helps in building credibility and career advancement.
Understanding Your Brand: 05:01 - 09:21
Shannara shares her process of understanding her personal brand by identifying her skills (e.g., process improvements), strengths (e.g., challenging the status quo, inclusion), and values (e.g., authenticity, uniqueness).
Crafting Your Personal Brand Statement: 09:27 - 13:39
Shannara provides insight into crafting a personal brand statement, sharing her elevator pitch as an example and highlighting the importance of clarity and consistency in defining one's brand.
Sharing Your Brand: 13:48 - 22:44
Shannara talks about the significance of sharing and managing your personal brand, including strategies for visibility on platforms like LinkedIn, engaging with your network, and leveraging other content streams (e.g., Instagram, TikTok).
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Transcript
Introduction to The Good Guide
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey there, welcome to The Good Guide, your ultimate career companion. I'm Shannara Good, and I've been on quite the career roller coaster. From the trenches of entry-level positions to the boardrooms as a now more seasoned professional.
00:00:15
Speaker
Believe me when I say i have been there and know that I've acquired some wisdom over the years that I cannot wait to share with
Career Challenges and Authenticity
00:00:22
Speaker
you. Ever felt like you're on your career journey solo?
00:00:26
Speaker
Or maybe you're curious about conquering career plateaus, overcoming imposter syndrome, or leading with unwavering confidence. Well, I promise you are in the right place.
00:00:38
Speaker
Every week, my guests and I will share our own challenges and successes. We'll talk about everything from career development to leadership to even work-life balance. Expect a healthy dose of authenticity and of course, our tips and tricks that will have you navigating your career with a newfound confidence.
00:00:58
Speaker
Don't miss out on the knowledge drop, y'all. Hit that like, subscribe, and follow button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Trust me, you won't want to miss an episode.
00:01:12
Speaker
Because this is the good guide, where we're not just chasing success, we're defining it. Are you ready to elevate your career game?
Understanding Personal Branding
00:01:22
Speaker
Let's dive in.
00:01:27
Speaker
Recently, I had a conversation with a mentor of mine that in a way helped me start to think of today's topic in a different way.
00:01:41
Speaker
Or wouldn't say in a different way. It actually helped me formally think about today's topic. And so what I want to do today is actually talk you guys through how I have been working on the development of my personal brand, specifically in the corporate setting.
00:02:01
Speaker
And I say this, i want to preface this with like, i really haven't done this work up until recently. I think for me, because I've always been so outwardly who I am and unapologetic about who I am, i didn't necessarily feel like I needed to then describe who I was to people, if that makes sense. Like I kind of just let my personal brand show through and speak for itself
00:02:35
Speaker
without feeling like I needed to necessarily define it or do the work to like really jot that down and physically showcase what my brand represents.
00:02:48
Speaker
So it got me really thinking about, wow, I should actually probably do that work because as I develop this podcast, as I mentor younger women in their careers, like I want to be sure that I'm like providing them with really useful skills that aren't just me speaking, but me actually doing as well.
00:03:11
Speaker
Meaning I never want to have, like, I don't want to get to a point where I'm like having this conversation or even someone coming to ask me like, hey, what's your personal brand? And I start spewing all this information without having actually done any of the work behind like putting that together.
00:03:26
Speaker
So for today's episode, I want to actively kind of like workshop this. I've never really done this and I'm kind of like doing this on the fly. i didn't think that this is how today's episode recording was going to go. But let's go ahead and spend some time crafting ah personal brand.
00:03:45
Speaker
So first, let's define personal brand. And again, I'm specifically going to focus on personal brand in the corporate setting. So for me, when I say a personal brand, it's how do i want to be perceived professionally by others in a way that really pulls together and exemplifies my skills, what I value, any attributes that I have, like how I stand behind things, that to me is your personal brand.
00:04:22
Speaker
That is the definition of personal branding. And I think the importance of that is, especially for women, is that I think that professional world, there's already so many hurdles that we have to jump beyond And I think that having something that you personally identify with or that allows you to stand out specifically really helps in pushing you forward, pushing you to the forefront against people who maybe don't have that personal brand established.
00:04:55
Speaker
I think it helps Build credibility because it actually helps you to kind of others will know what to go to you for and what opinion you will have in a certain situation.
00:05:12
Speaker
And then naturally all of that together, like ultimately elevates you in your career and ultimately puts you into the line for certain roles or opportunities or things that maybe require ah set of skills that you have defined by very overtly establishing this brand.
Building and Showcasing Your Brand
00:05:34
Speaker
So That is the definition, in my opinion, of a personal brand. So now I want to talk about how to actually understand what your brand entails.
00:05:48
Speaker
So for example, as I'm trying to write this out myself and trying to really think through it, if I go back to the, again, the definition of personal brand, it's what's my skill sets, what's my values, and what's what are my unique attributes.
00:06:04
Speaker
Okay, cool. So let's go down that list. My skills.
00:06:10
Speaker
Something that I'm really skilled at, me, Shannara, Janelle, good. I am really skilled at process improvements. I am really good ah going into an issue or a problem, like seeing a problem at hand.
00:06:28
Speaker
understanding what the long-term goal is, and then being able to see all of the intricate details that need to go into getting us to the finish line.
00:06:41
Speaker
Now, I've gathered that skill set because I was a project manager for a few years, and I feel like I have always been someone who thinks that way, but I think being a project manager really gave me more of the technical skill set to establish that ability.
00:06:58
Speaker
So in my personal brand statement, I am going to speak to my ability to implement process or to work through change management, things like that.
00:07:10
Speaker
That is a skill set that I behold. I think my strengths are actually my ability to challenge the status quo. And I feel like that's such a kind of catchy thing to say, but it's truly who I am.
00:07:25
Speaker
I think that it's so important to question things and not just for the sake of questioning something. But when something has worked the way that it's worked for eons and eons and eons, to me, that is a clear indication of someone hasn't challenged something because of God knows for whatever reason, but something hasn't been challenged.
00:07:49
Speaker
And mind you, there are some times when if something isn't broke, like we shouldn't fix it, but I mean, efficiency, there's always area for efficiency. So I always think that it's really important to challenge and to like push back and to not always take the first option as the answer.
00:08:09
Speaker
So much changes in six months, in a year, in two years. So I really love to be the person that kind of like pushes back when I'm feeling clunky about something or when something doesn't feel like it's quite right.
00:08:22
Speaker
So that's a strength of mine, challenging the status quo. I think another strength of mine is really inclusion. And I've noticed this in particular in this role as a leader of people and having my role be so Zoom heavy.
00:08:41
Speaker
I am so good, and this is like a very concrete example of how I'm inclusive, but I am so good at if I'm running a meeting and I see someone for even a second, whether they have an odd look or they come off of mute, I really can zone in on someone who might have something to say, but may not feel comfortable in that very moment saying it.
00:09:09
Speaker
And so what I think that I'm really good at is taking a beat, asking if anyone has anything to say, but then in particular, being willing to call people out and not in like a direct, like trying to put them on a spot, but more in a, hey,
00:09:24
Speaker
Come into the conversation. i know you really wanted to say something. I want to give you the platform to be able to do so. So I think I'm really good at including others in on the conversation. That is something that like 100% I know is a strength of mine.
00:09:41
Speaker
All right, so now I've got two strengths, my ability to challenge and my ability to include folks. And I've got skill, which is, you know, process implementation and being able to see strategy while also seeing the details. Great. Awesome.
00:09:55
Speaker
Now about my values. This one's a hard one because. I think I value you so much, but I think one of the biggest things that I value is the ability to be authentic and uniquely you and to have a perspective that's uniquely yours and that no one else can take from you or wrong you for.
00:10:17
Speaker
I feel like that in the corporate setting. I feel like that in life. I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, with their own point of view. And if we allowed each other to voice that opinion or point of view, especially in the workplace, I think we actually would realize that we have a lot more similarities in thought than not.
00:10:42
Speaker
And when we don't have similarities in thought, I think there's a lot to be gained from that. So I really value the importance of like being authentic to who you are and feeling like you can show up as that person day to day.
00:10:58
Speaker
So that is how I would probably understand what is behind my personal brand. And then in terms of trying to establish who my brand, like what is the point of my brand? So meaning who is it impacting?
00:11:19
Speaker
And for me, for the exact reason that I'm even creating this podcast is like I want to ensure that everything that I do now in the future, in the far future, is influential to those who come after me.
00:11:36
Speaker
Because I've had moments where I didn't feel like I had that. And then I've had moments where I feel like that was the only thing, that support was the only thing that got me through something.
00:11:49
Speaker
And so for me, it's important to really give back and reach down and pull everyone up. And so when I think of the purpose of my brand, it's exactly that.
00:12:00
Speaker
It's to influence women after me so that they can learn from Either not even the mistakes that I made, but just the the path that I've taken.
00:12:11
Speaker
So that being said, all of that rambling aside, I wanted to share with you guys my personal branding statement. So like my elevator pitch.
00:12:24
Speaker
And ah couple of episodes ago, or maybe it was the most recent episode, I talked about interviewing tips and tactics. And one of the things what I always try to do is weave in a statement about myself that really makes my intent and my skill set known.
00:12:41
Speaker
So I'm going pull up right now the some pre homework, but I'm going pull up the statement that I crafted. So this is what I said. And I honestly would probably even like change it sometimes now, but this is what I said when I wrote it, like maybe three weeks ago.
00:12:57
Speaker
I'm a confident, collaborative, and curious leader who excels at refining processes, igniting thought-provoking conversations, and challenging the status quo if and when necessary.
00:13:08
Speaker
That is book. elevator pitch. That is my mission statement. That is what defines me, Shannara Janelle Good, and my professional brand.
00:13:22
Speaker
And I stand by that statement. And I think there's probably a million different ways I can say that statement. And in general, that's just, that's how I feel about myself. And I think that it's so important now as I, whether it be on LinkedIn, whether it be in interviews, like that's going to be a statement that I lean on Because it really defines my skills, it defines my strengths, and it defines my values.
00:13:46
Speaker
Now, what's the purpose of doing all of this work of defining your personal brand if no one is going to see it? I definitely think that there's elements of things to like hold at your chest. And this is something that I'm actually trying to learn for myself of like, when when and where do you brag about yourself?
00:14:07
Speaker
You know, i see a lot of people on LinkedIn. and honestly, the only reason why I'm getting, I'm trying to get more and more comfortable with this now is because I have this podcast and like I want to share my message. And LinkedIn is an amazing avenue to share professional messaging.
00:14:22
Speaker
But I know that I don't do a good job of visibly, of like very visibly sharing out to my audience what my brand is and what I stand for and what I've accomplished. You know, I'm real quick to update my LinkedIn when I get a job, but i am not really one to like brag about the why behind the reason why I got said job or what even just generally makes me me.
00:14:51
Speaker
in a professional setting. So something that I know that I need to get better at is taking my brand and taking my mission statement and taking everything that makes up me as a professional and displaying that on LinkedIn.
00:15:06
Speaker
Point is, is that I want to make sure that I am being more visible on LinkedIn as it is, you know, your professional portfolio.
00:15:17
Speaker
that's readily available for anyone who's trying to look up information about you, about your professional brand. So that's something that I want to get better at and something that I think that as you guys establish your professional brand, that you are putting that out there into the world for people to actually or resonate with, relate to you on, have conversations with, like, I need to be better about that.
00:15:51
Speaker
Another thing that I really need to be better about is actually actively engaging with others on LinkedIn. Again, in the realm of I'm now very, like quite literally doing something that is exposing myself professionally by putting out this podcast, I need to now lean into showing up as my branded self, as my professionally branded self on LinkedIn as a platform, conversing with other people that just like I would in the workplace, I would network and connect with and really develop these professional relationships with.
00:16:42
Speaker
You know, in this virtual world, I feel like we have in lieu of being in the office, especially for me, for someone who's fully remote, there's not even an office in l L.A. for me to go to as someone who's fully remote.
00:16:57
Speaker
I need to do a better job of engaging with my network, whether it be folks that do work at my company, but also folks
Social Media's Role in Personal Branding
00:17:05
Speaker
that are professionally here in the LA area, folks on LinkedIn. Like I need to do a better job of actually putting myself out there.
00:17:14
Speaker
And again, sharing my brand, my brand. I don't know what commercial is that from, that's from, but sharing my brand. So that's something that I've definitely, you know, I'm holding myself accountable in the next year to really like up the ante on what I share out.
00:17:30
Speaker
And then i would say, Another thing and another avenue in which that you could share out your newly crafted professional, personal, et cetera, brand is on other areas or ah ah on other content streams. You know, LinkedIn is a really great one.
00:17:48
Speaker
Obviously, I'm like I just mentioned, I'm trying to utilize that, but also other avenues. Again, as as I've created this podcast and as I've really dedicated to, or I am really dedicated to making it grow, I know that there's other areas that I need to show up in.
00:18:04
Speaker
So going back to Instagram, you know, showing up on Instagram and making sure that I'm putting my message out there. You know, I used to be so cringy about like being like, oh, I want to influence people. I want to blah, blah.
00:18:16
Speaker
The fact of the matter is it's it's what I want to do. It's something that is really important to me to, as I mentioned before, even a part of like my value is our to reach down and and educate the women after me.
00:18:28
Speaker
I can't do that by sitting back and being silent. I have to do that in spaces that allow me to connect and reach out and communicate with other people. So there's LinkedIn, there's Instagram. I know TikTok is going, I haven't even read up on all the news, but TikTok is going through its own little thing. But yeah, so being vulnerable enough to share that on platforms, just like I would in a professional, you know, in the four walls of a corporation that I would work for, like I need to be willing to also manage my brand socially and through social networks as well.
00:19:06
Speaker
So yeah. That's a little bit, or that was actually a lot of it of of kind of what I wanted to connect on today. But I think in conclusion, something that I've promised myself is, and the takeaway from really what where this originated was having this conversation with my mentor and him asking me, hey, what's your mission statement? And me being like, well, I kind of just let it speak for itself.
00:19:35
Speaker
And I think that's all good and well. And what I'm learning now is that that's all good and well for the people who are naturally in your orbit and that you are interfacing with every day.
00:19:46
Speaker
But that doesn't allow you opportunity to really like draw a line in the sand and specifically tell people what you want them to know about you and then let your performance, you know, speak for itself.
00:20:02
Speaker
So if there's two takeaways from this episode that I would challenge you with and that I'm challenging myself with is establish that brand, number one. And for me, it's that mission statement of I am a confident, collaborative, and curious leader who excels at refining processes, igniting thought-provoking conversations, and challenging the status quo if and when necessary.
00:20:26
Speaker
That is my brand, but who am I sharing that with? Where am I sharing that? How am I showcasing that? How am I measuring the success of my brand brand development?
00:20:39
Speaker
Those are all the things that I now want to be thinking about and want to be challenging myself on. Over the next year, especially because I think also to like branding yourself takes time.
Engagement and Feedback
00:20:52
Speaker
I'm on the brink of some potential career like shifts and role changes. And so there's going to be a period of time where I really need to kind of like settle in and hunker down. But all the while still making sure that I'm always tying back to my brand and what I want to be remembered for.
00:21:09
Speaker
So that's the episode for today. I hope it was comprehensive enough to help you really lean into how you want to start to think about how you show up in a professional space. and And I really hope that you know something that I'm really proud of myself for this podcast is it's really allowing me and challenging me on exactly who am i as a professional and what do I want to stand for.
00:21:38
Speaker
And so hopefully you start to see that come to fruition. You know, we're a few episodes into the podcast, um obviously, but hopefully you start to really see who I am and what I represent and what's really important to me professionally. And hopefully that's why you continue to come back because that resonates with you.
00:21:56
Speaker
And yeah, I hope this was helpful. A couple of bullets on on what we talked about today in the show notes. But yeah, I'm really excited to get this one out there and I cannot wait for it the next episode.
00:22:09
Speaker
Bye. Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of The Good Guide, the podcast dedicated to guiding you through every twist and turn in your career journey. If you loved this episode, make sure to leave those five-star reviews and share this podcast with a friend, loved one, or hey, even a colleague.
00:22:28
Speaker
If you have a topic that you'd like for me to tackle, check out this week's show notes for links to where you can submit your question. It might even be featured during the Q&A segment of the next episode.
00:22:39
Speaker
But first, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a beat. Take care, y'all.