Executives Branding

Proof 1

• Ten Steps To A Strong Executive Career Brand
• The Old is Gone, The New has Come
• Setting Career Branding Goals for 2011
• Career Brand Messages From My Tweets
• 3 Steps To Being A Thought Leader

Proof 2

Story: A Singapore senior finance executive in a telecom MNC who is passionate about communication resurrects the Toastmasters’ chapter in the organisation to help engineering and new executives develop their presentation skills.

Branding Outcomes:
Work: Her visibility increases amongst her peers and bosses in the organisation. Initiatives are being developed to start similar chapters in other countries. Her confidence and increased speaking expertise led her to host top level CFO and finance heads conference recently. Her work related presentations in head office received very positive feedback. Clearly, her presentation and public speaking skills have become her strengths.
Life: She is more fulfilled in able to make a difference to others and yet living out her passion of communicating with people.

Background.
With the importance of LinkedIn in job search, executives are now paying more attention to building, developing and enhancing their profiles. While it is commendable to take a proactive approach in marketing yourself, it is also important to
a. ensure that all written information is accurate and can be verified
b. maintain professionalism and integrity when connecting with others
c. give first before asking for favours from others
d. stop spamming your connections with irrelevant sales pitches and desperate job applications
e. communicate positively and respectfully with one another
f. first impressions count so think about the impact on your brand in your interactions with others

Your brand is your reputation and what you say, how you say and to whom you say to, impacts the value of your brand.

Situation
I have been getting several requests from LinkedIn connections to write recommendations for their LinkedIn profiles. Given that there has not been any form of professional relationships with which I could provide positive feedback, I declined the requests.

Branding Outcomes
It does not bode well for one’s brand reputation if one is seen as imposing than engaging, unethical than professional, taking than giving, thoughtless than mindful. Recommendations are to be written in the context where work performance or personal attributes have been demonstrated long enough to show your talents, expertise or unique differentiation.
Fluffy or gratuitous recommendations, or ones procured in an underhanded or unethical manner, will show themselves for what they are.

Coaching tip
If you have identified a LinkedIn connection whom you wish to seek a recommendation, invest time in the relationship and find ways to collaborate on a project that you could show your expertise and thought leadership.