In yesterday’s Advisor, we heard about the value of using a rookie approach to learning. Today, we hear from guest columnist, Lisa Orrell, CPC, on the value of training employees to develop a personal brand.
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Some companies perceive the concept of creating a “Personal Brand at Work” to be self-serving for the employee. But the reality is there is no downside to having team members with heightened self-awareness and a willingness to improve themselves. Basically, that is the foundation for developing a respected Personal Brand at work: to get clarity on who you are and who you aspire to be, make the necessary changes, and then conduct yourself accordingly.
However, there are other important reasons why companies should empower and encourage their employees to focus on Personal Branding. Here are four key benefits that perhaps you haven’t considered:
1. Increases morale and understanding: A simple phrase that I share in the Personal Branding Workshops I conduct for employees that quickly puts this into perspective is: “Whenever someone has contact with you, your Personal Brand is either strengthened or weakened.”
When an employee takes that concept seriously, be they entry-level or senior-level, an internal barometer is created that helps them effectively manage their Personal Brand by monitoring what they say and how they act. This certainly isn’t easy for everyone (of any age or career-level!) but the more employees who adopt that mindset, the better. It is a critical component in turning a toxic department or company into a healthier work environment quickly.
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2. Improves employee satisfaction and retention: As an employee becomes clear on their Personal Brand, they become clearer on their personal and professional values. This normally leads to asking themselves things like: Am I in the right job or role? Do I even like what I do or should I make a career change? Does my Boss, or the Company, mesh with my Personal Brand values? Those are all valid questions.
Knowing the answers to them benefits your company because it improves the odds of having employees “truly happy to be there”… and that improves employee satisfaction and talent retention.
3. Encourages open communication: So what if you have a great employee who doesn’t like their job, or role, or Boss? Wouldn’t it be better to know so you can possibly help them move into a different role or department, versus lose them to the competition? Empowering employees to focus on Personal Branding can help foster open dialogue and communication with their Supervisors and/or HR, and that also benefits your company.
4. Better prepares younger employees for leadership roles: A majority of Millennial employees (those in their 20s, also known as Gen Y) that I conduct presentations for do not feel adequately prepared by their employers to assume management and leadership roles. Yet, due to the extreme generational shifts occurring in the workforce nowadays, such as the massive Baby Boomer population aging, Millennials are getting moved into those roles faster and younger than generations before them out of necessity.
But their feelings of “not being prepared” aren’t just based my own observations. It is supported by significant research, including a current in-depth study conducted by Deloitte, The Millennial Survey 2014. One major takeaway from the survey is that companies need to take this seriously and provide their Millennials with Leadership training quickly. And educating them on Personal Branding should be the first step in their leadership development process.
They have to know “who they are and who they want to be” in order to perform in management and leadership roles effectively. Again, Personal Branding is all about self-awareness, acknowledging your weaknesses (such as having a bad temper or being poor at communication), making changes to improve yourself, and also understanding your strengths.
One final thought: My employee audiences often range in age from their 20s to 60s. And every time I present this particular workshop, an attendee 40+ years-old always shares that they wish people had been talking about Personal Branding when they first entered the workforce, or even while they were in college. Thus, employees of all ages find value in developing their Personal Brand at work … and it’s never too early or too late to start!
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Lisa Orrell, CPC, is globally recognized as The Generations Relations & Leadership Expert. She’s an in-demand Corporate and College Speaker, Thought Leader, Media Guest, and the Author of three top-selling business books: Millennials Incorporated; Millennials into Leadership; and Boomers into Business. And her new fourth book, Your Employee Brand is in Your Hands: How Any Employee Can Create and Promote Their Own Personal Leadership Brand for Massive Career Success!, was just released to rave reviews plus 5-star ratings on Amazon. Visit Lisa’s website to see her presentation topics, client list, and much more: TheOrrellGroup.com. Or contact her directly via e-mail: Lisa@TheOrrellGroup.com.