Are your communication skills all about electronics or the message?
At a recent communications conference, the speaker asked how many of the attendees used BlackBerries? Hands shot up. “How many of you use Twitter?” came the next question. “How about FaceBook?” Again hands – at least every other person’s – waved in the air.
Obviously, the audience had become adept in social networking and the associated electronics. But, then came the question, “How many of you communicate effectively?”
The room became quiet and only a few hesitant hands went into the air.
Personal Branding is all about exuding your brand effectively to your brand community. If you communicate with clients, vendors, team members and/or management, it’s not about how instantaneous your communications are. It’s all about how clearly and concisely you send your messages…and once received, if the message is clearly and concisely understood.
And even with cell phones, hand-helds of every description and the Internet . . . management across the country continues to place poor communication at the top of their list of challenges. Here are the results from a recent corporate survey to encourage us all to evaluate the quality of our communications:
* 85 percent said their business has lost money due to ineffective presentations, proposals or e-mail.
* 55 percent said employees could not easily find information they needed.
* 45 percent said information for business use is either inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.
* 44 percent said information they use often lacked adequate detail.
* 44 percent said an average of 30 minutes to an hour was wasted each day due to ineffective written communications within the company.
Be careful. Today’s electronic communications are far superior to anything we’ve ever known – and using these wisely can only move the level of our communications up and even beyond. But, as we employ these electronic tools to stay in touch with clients or as a resource in order to achieve a higher performance level, let us not forget the importance of language and writing skills…the basics of communications for all of us.
Valerie
Read more articles like this here: http://www.valerieandcompany.com/
Digitally Distinct
That’s an interesting question, isn’t it? Let me explain.
If you go to the following site you can check out your Google rating.
Try it and you can determine yours. That is, how visible are you online? You see, knowing what Google says about you and proactively managing your personal brand online is critical to success. If you want to have a strong personal brand, you must not only be visible to people in person— like your networking groups and organizations—but you must be visible online as well.
Here’s the deal. In today’s world of work you are being googled—for lots of reasons. People google you before they meet you. Recruiters research candidates online. You could be googled by people who want to learn critical information about you.
So the message is clear. It’s important to develop a strong online identity. How? First begin by using social media. Take it one step at a time. LinkedIn is a good start for professionals. Learn to use it effectively to tell people all about you and your strengths. If you want more information, click “send me an email.”
‘TIS THE SEASON TO CREATE YOUR UNIQUE, PERSONAL BRAND
Like many people, I love the holiday season…even during those last-minute, hurry-up errands I meant to do two weeks ago. I love to cook my traditional pumpkin bread to give to those service people who are there for me every day…the guard at our condo building, the doorman at our office, and the mail delivery person who always brings our mail wearing a smile.
In addition to the many religious traditions celebrated during this time of the year and into early January, this also is a time to refill and renew our energy and begin shaping our personal and professional strategies for a new year of opportunities.
If you’re like me, it helps to put in my calendar a few actual days to take time to reflect, re-evaluate and, perhaps, make some changes…managing “our stuff.” I often find myself using part of the time to clean out, re-arrange, throw out and bring in all the tools I need to be successful in the coming year.
Yes, it’s hard to discard some of those old habits – personally as well as professionally – but your goal is to clarify your brand and your personal direction…it’s about doing more with less, to hone your goals into laser-sharp focus…to plan what you need and how to get what you need to succeed.
The holidays are, in fact, a time to renew and revitalize old friendships, to spend time with family and friends and to take a deep breath from the daily routine…but it’s never too early to make improvements in your personal brand, to re-align your passion and to re-examine old strategies. Just like that perfect suit you bought three years ago, the style may no longer be flattering…and so your personal brand strategy may need to be re-evaluated, tweaked and improved. Let me know if I can be a resource to help you unearth your unique personal brand!
Wishing you happy, healthy and productive holidays,
Valerie
How You Can Make Networking a Science.
Networking is essential to advertising your personal brand – and, as you may realize, networking is sort of like power walking. If you wear light workout clothing and athletic shoes made for the terrain you walk, you almost glide down the track or path. If you strap on leg weights, step into steel-toed boots and pile on heavy coats, you’ll cover less ground and add time to your walk.
Here’s how to avoid moving in slow motion and how you can cover more ground in less time when you’re networking.
1. What’s your outcome? When calling on a member of your network or a targeted company, your goal is to achieve a certain outcome – like developing referrals, informational interviews or formal interviews. So, first pinpoint the outcome you need and then create a strategy, including the reasons your request should be granted, to help you achieve your desired outcome.
2. Develop a script: if networking is difficult for you, it’s because you haven’t had much practice. So, it’s time you did – practice, I mean. Take a look at your strategy and goals for a quick review. Then develop a script – if you have an elevator speech, start with that and tailor it to achieving the goal you’ve set. Your script will need an introduction, a purpose for the call, email or face-to-face visit, a “What’s In It For Me” from the standpoint of the person you want to speak to, as well as anticipated questions, rebuttals and objections – and your planned responses. At the end, ask for what you want…ask that person to help you make your goal happen.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice: After putting your script together, practice it. Use your family, your roommate…anybody who will listen and others who will be honest with their feedback. If you practice your script, you’ll be prepared to think on your feet…especially when you network with someone less than eager to work with you. You’ll also be able – whether you’re networking, interviewing or selling a product or idea – to get to the benefits faster and then asking for your desired outcome…and this is way better than rambling on and on…and on.
4. Ready for Your Debut: With script well in mind, your networking “butterflies” have lessened considerably. Now, start targeting your most sought-after target – the company you’d most like to work with or the client you’d most like to sign…or the job you’ve wanted forever. Find a way to get to the decision-makers and then ask for what you want.
5. Ongoing evolution: As you go through your script, collect the responses you get and make necessary adjustments to it. If you use certain words and get favorable responses, add those words to your script. If certain phrases or ideas get automatic rebuttals or objections, smooth these out.
6. Keep on learning: Never think about networking or going for job interviews or anything that has to do with selling yourself without bringing yourself up-to-date. These may be the latest trends, the most recent activities of a company or the latest and greatest in whatever field you may be in. Never stop learning…this is key to your success!
WANT TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY?
I’ve known business owners who wanted nothing more than to capture 100 percent of the market. Really? Yes, they thought 100 percent market share equaled success.
However, there’s nothing that dilutes a brand faster than being all things to all people. It’s not possible and it’s a toxic expectation for any business – because any brand that creates customer passion is, by its own definition, not for everyone.
Recently I came upon a product from an online beverage firm, specializing in chai drinks and latte mixes. It was love at first sip!
Shortly after we had finished our first cup, I was at my computer, looking for the company where I could order more of this amazing drink…and was shocked to see how “niche-y” the company was. Nothing but chai and latte products.
But it made perfect sense! By specializing in products that, indeed, created passion among their customers, this company could focus on what it does best…finding products for people who enjoy a daily cup of chai or latte to create an “experience.” No, the company offered nothing else, just chai and latte mixes…but their brand had tremendous impact because it established an identity “at first sip”.
In other words, they had defined their customer by simply carrying a small sliver of the beverage product spectrum. If they had attempted to be everything to everybody, this brand would have had no identity and no customer loyalty.
It’s a brand strategy worth considering. Know your product – know your target audience – and be all you can be to that specific demographic. Then, build your brand by focusing on your niche in the marketplace. If you build your brand, the – your passionate customers – will come!
If you wish to read more articles like this I invite you to sign up for my newsletter here:
http://www.valerieandcompany.com/valeries-voice.html
Valerie
