Working with an executive coach specializing in personal branding provides the advantage of having an experienced professional lead you through a process that challenges you to develop the best version of yourself instead of blindly meeting the expectations others have set for you as a leader.
If you aren’t getting expert guidance from a coach, how do you know if the personal brand you are developing represents your best version and how you ultimately want to be known?
Once you establish the fundamental elements that guide how you show up, how do you stay on track and eliminate any blind spots you may have?
Here are four strategies you can apply immediately to eliminate the blind spots and allow you to self-coach:
#1 PERFORM A SELF CHECK-IN
To start, it is important to define how you want to be known as a person who is a leader. Begin by writing a list of descriptive words you would love to hear others use to describe you. Next, narrow your list to the top four to six words in how you want to be known. These are the words you want to own in the minds of your audience, whether it is one person or many.
When drafting your initial list, write as many words as possible. Ensure you write words that raise the bar for you and hold you in an elevated state of being. It could be confident or dynamic instead of professional or capable.
Words carry meaning. They can influence your attitude, the way you see yourself and how you showcase your value.
Review your list and notice your inner dialogue to know if you’ve landed on your top brand words. Are you saying, “That’s good,” or is your internal voice shouting, “THAT IS TOTALLY THE WAY I WANT OTHERS TO SEE ME!” If your self check-in is revealing, “That’s good!”, keep working at it until you get the second response. If you have the second response to your top words, put them into practice and start making them your reality!
#2 PAY ATTENTION
Pay attention to how people respond to you and what you say to know if you are on track in living your personal brand. It will provide you with clues.
When you are leading a presentation or conducting a meeting, are you getting the response you desire? Are participants actively engaged, or do they appear disinterested? When you share your point of view, do others shake their head in agreement or become defensive?
If the response isn’t what you are going for, this is the perfect opportunity to consider making a few minor adjustments. Are you providing too much detail and overwhelming your audience? Are you speaking in an aggressive tone or a condescending manner?
This can happen without you realizing it based on how you feel, so how do you change people rolling their eyes to nodding their heads in agreement? Think of someone who is easily able to engage their audience and model his or her communication style.
Caution: Model ~ don’t copy! This is not about being someone else; it is about you learning from someone who has already mastered a quality you want to own.
#3 ASK PEOPLE YOU RESPECT
Another way to find out if you are aligned with your personal brand is to be proactive in approaching people whose opinions you value and ask them, “What three to five words would you use to describe me?”
Give them time to think without interrupting. Also, be prepared to share why you’re asking for their input, as some may be curious.
Your response to their curiosity could be as simple as: I want to be more aware of how I am showing up and feel the best way to find out is to ask people I respect.
Regardless, if you are delighted or disappointed with the words they share, thank them for sharing and for their honesty.
Remember you are asking someone you respect and whose opinion you value. If the feedback isn’t aligned with the personal brand you want to create, see the input as an opportunity to recalibrate and grow.
#4 GET CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK
Many leaders share they are often disappointed that the feedback they get isn’t constructive. You can’t do anything with “You are doing fine” or “Nothing stands out.” The responsibility in getting constructive feedback lies in asking specifically what you want feedback on.
You will get a general response if you ask a general question about how you are doing. However, if you request feedback on specifics of your personal brand, it is easier for someone to give you useful information.
To make this process easy, share your personal brand words (the image you want to project) with several colleagues you trust. Ask them for feedback after you get off calls or when leaving a meeting.
If it is more confidence you are going for, ask if you come across as confident. If you are looking to eliminate being defensive and working on being open-minded, ask if they noticed you being defensive, as your goal is to be open-minded.
To improve the quality of feedback you get, ask before the call or meeting. This gives others the opportunity to observe your behaviours.
What if their feedback isn’t positive? Maybe one of their observations was that you interrupted several times. Don’t go into making an excuse about why you interrupted (this can be seen as being defensive and lacking confidence). Thank your colleague for sharing, and let them know how much you appreciate their support.
To take your appreciation one step further, act on the feedback received, check back in with your colleague, and let him/her know the difference it made. This is the greatest compliment you can give to the people you respect and who provided their support.
Keep in mind you are doing this as a self-coaching exercise to build a remarkable brand and be fully aligned with how you want to be known.
YOUR MOVE
Act on one of the strategies above that will move you closer to living by your personal brand standards and eliminate any blind spots. This is your work, with or without a coach!
Ready to Elevate Your Leadership?
At Authentic Leaders Edge, we help professionals like you develop a powerful leadership presence. Whether you’re leading a team or defining your personal brand, Dorothy Lazovik provides tailored coaching to accelerate your growth.
Book a complimentary 30-minute consultation to explore how coaching can help you step into your full potential. Email today to get started!
