We all have a reputation. It’s what people say about us when we are not there and it can be positive and negative based on how people have experienced us. This is your personal brand! The question is, are you aware of your brand and is it consistent?

We go through life often blind to who we are, what we bring and what really motivates us. It’s only when we get clear about these things that we begin to get clear on our brand and can live it easily and effortlessly.

Here are some things to think about while living your brand:

Be Consistent

Be consistent in all that you do, it builds trust. If you say that you are going to do something, do it. Every exposure to your brand needs to be the same as the last. Online encounters, face-to-face interactions, and every other way that you connect with other people must reflect the brand that you have set forward – who you are. If your brand promises one thing online, but a physical encounter does not measure up to that image, your brand will suffer. 

Be Committed

Consistency takes commitment. Be faithful and dependable in the execution of your brand’s promises and values. For your brand to be seen as dependable, multiple encounters with other people must reflect the values and mission of your brand. By committing to execute your brand effectively, your reputation will remain positive and spread. 

Be Balanced

It is easy to believe that your personal life is completely separate from your professional life. However, you are the same person so the two should intersect. Your values are intrinsic to who you are and if you try to behave in a way that is incongruent to these you’ll come across as inauthentic and inconsistent. It’s also likely to cause you stress! If your personal brand conflicts with your professional brand, distrust for both your personal and professional brand will develop. 

Additionally, exercise restraint when using social media. No matter your privacy settings, nothing online is private. What you say on your personal Twitter account needs to positively reflect your personal brand. If you must vent your frustrations, do so in a private setting that will not reflect poorly on you. 

Be a Professional

When developing and living your brand be professional and define what this looks like for you. Not everyone defines professionalism the same way. Some people are more rigid in their views and others are more relaxed. There are, however, a few different ways to behave professionally that most people agree on:

• Be dependable.
• Be competent in your work.
• Act with honesty and integrity.
• Treat everyone with respect.
• Be a positive example. 

This list is not inclusive, but it is a good starting point. By behaving professionally you will help create a brand that is respected. 

Live It Every Day

Committing to your brand requires you to take action every day. It falls in line with consistency and constancy. As we have already learned, every interaction with your brand needs to build a sense of dependability. Committing to living out your brand is the only way to make this happen, and you must commit to doing it every day. How you execute day in and day out will depend on your brand and your customers. 

Regardless of your brand, the point is for you to follow through daily. As you do, the actions will become more natural, and you will be able to expand your brand’s reputation. If you are being authentic this will be easy.

‘Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else.’

Judy Garland