Sync

Personal Brand - easy read

What do people think about you?

Do people think you are fun to be with? Interesting? Always thinking? Always moaning?

Everything you do tells people about you - from sending an email, the way you answer the phone, the way you meet people, what you wear when you go to work... People make their minds up about you because of all these things - scary isn't it!?

'Brand'

Have you heard the word 'brand' before?

Most people use the word brand when they are talking about big companies and products - like Coca Cola and MacDonalds.

They have a 'brand' - this means that they have a particular way they make you think about them. When you hear or see the word Coca Cola you don't just think about a drink, you think about having fun and enjoying life - thats what their brand wants you to think!

Michael Lynch, a disabled person who used to run the Southbank Centre said he wanted to use the fact that he was a disabled person as part of his brand. It made people think differently - about him but also about himself.

Your brand

Your 'brand' is what you want people to think about you.

You have to think about what you want people to think about you, and then make sure you give all the right signs so people can think that.

You want people to think you are really professional? Then make sure you turn up on time, with the right things, looking ready to work and not moaning.

You want people to think you are creative? Then make sure your answer phone message is creative, that the ideas you come up with are creative and maybe wear things that set you a little bit apart too.

What is your 'brand'? What do you want people to think about you?

Owning your brand

So think hard about how you want people to think about you.

Maybe ask a few friends how they do think about you - what words come into their heads if you ask them to describe you.

Then check if the words they would use match how you want them to think - if not, maybe you need to do some work on your 'personal brand'!

Jo Verrent

Sync project manager