Telling Your Story

Whether you know it or not, you already have a personal brand.

Your personal brand helps people understand what you do and the value you bring.
It includes words, concepts, and ideas people associate with your name and image.
Your personal brand leaves a lasting impression!

One of my favorite quotes about a brand is this:

“A brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room.” – Jeff Bezos

Do you know what people would say about you?

The good news is, you get to have a say in this. You don’t have to feel lucky and hope for the best!

Much like a company wants to control their brand with marketing efforts – and some public relations interventions – you should want to own and tell your story to others to promote your personal brand. It is not enough to just tell your story, though. If it is truly authentic, you will live out your story in the way you show up, both personally and professionally.

Where should you begin?

Reflect on your story

Whether you are a 20-year professional or just starting out, it is important to know how to tell a better story that is authentic and builds connection. Your story is the foundation of your personal brand. Getting clearer on your story will help you to promote not just what you do, but who you are and why you do it.

Don’t just say you like to work with people. Or that you love technology. You will sound just like everyone else. Share your WHY! Here are some tips and questions to consider as you draft your story. If it feels intimidating to get started writing your story, don't think of it as a story just yet. Just jot down answers to the questions. The story will come together!

Here is some guidance to craft your story:

Stay authentic to you
Think outside your resume
Use genuine language
Write in the first person

Start with the end in mind. What is ONE word you want someone to take away from reading or hearing your story? Is this word (or feeling!) something you are leaving behind with the people you meet today?

Many of us have a hard time talking about ourselves so it's helpful to get perspectives from those closest to us. As you continue to shape your story, here are some additional questions to guide you:

What words do others use to describe me/my work?
How would I describe what I do to someone completely unfamiliar with my field/role?
What are my strengths, skills, areas of expertise, and experiences?
What are my passions and interests?
What motivates me?
What differentiates me/makes me unique?
Professionally, what do I want to be known for?

What's your tagline?

All good stories have a title, right? Your summary/story will help you develop your headline or tagline. Headlines should make someone want to read more! Check out these sample headlines:

Connector of people and meaningful experiences
Wrangler of thoughts and visions

Sharing your Story

After you have a draft of your story, it helps to share it with a teammate, friend, spouse, parent, etc., so they can identify what might be missing. Take their feedback and make the changes to ensure you are leaving your audience with a full picture of who you are, what you do and most importantly WHY you do it.

What questions do they have after hearing your story?
Did they feel hooked?
Did they want to know more?
Was it personal enough?
Did they take away the 2 - 3 key messages that you wanted them to?

When you’re ready to share more broadly, you can use your story to introduce yourself, as part of a cover letter, as the summary on your resume or LinkedIn profile, or elsewhere.

Connecting on LinkedIn

It's time to shine! Being on LinkedIn is more than just keeping your profile up to date, but it doesn’t have to be tedious or exhausting. You can simply offer examples of what you do and think.

Start with liking and commenting.
Then try sharing the good stuff you see by reposting. Consider following or connecting with organizations and people that you admire to see content you might want to share.
When you are getting comfortable, maybe try adding your own comments to articles when you repost to show your thought leadership!
And last, share experiences! Did you do something fun at work this week? Talk about it! These types of posts show humanity, start conversations and create real connection.

Using these suggestions will help employers get to know you in a much more meaningful way than just what they see on a resume. It will also help you stand out from the crowd. So instead of relying on luck to land your next role, take this opportunity to own your personal brand and tell a story that leaves a lasting impression.

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