What’s your USP - It’s time for a self-branding.

In today’s workplace, each day employees are facing so many challenges and the learning gained such challenges makes a better professional. Who doesn’t like to have an expert in his team? This creates a space for specialists and experts with whom the leaders consult and assign the most important & critical tasks. This gives an opportunity to learn more. So it becomes a vicious circle for those who are open to face challenges and to learn from the experiences.

But let me ask you a simple question, how confident are you in explaining your key strengths in public? In my recent instance of me as an interviewer, I asked one such question to the candidate, ‘tell me about your 2 key strengths which will enable you to perform better in the position you’ve applied for?’ The candidate was blank. I asked him the question again. With a lot of shyness in his face, he asked another question to me, ‘sir, won’t it feel like boasting, if I tell about my strengths?’

This counter question from the candidate actually evoked a thought in me; will it be construed as boasting if I speak about myself in public? Such a situation often happens in many a places during the regular course of duty in today’s workplace. Self-promotion can make many people uncomfortable. But even for many professionals, it’s a tricky prospect. How do you ensure that when you speak of your strengths, your talent is recognized and not considered as self-boasting?

The first step in achieving this is to understand yourself. In order to speak in front of many people about yourself, you should be clear on what are the areas you’re good at and what needs improvement. It may be called as reinventing yourself. One may use reflective techniques, self-analysis or get the help of a good friend or a family member for the same. However, you should watch out for a common error in this. Go by the realities of the facts rather than perceptions or interpretation.

Secondly, one should lookout for the real value of self-promotion. When you promote yourself in the right way, it’s a win-win. No one in the present world have all life’s time to fully understand your interests, talents, and skill set. It would make the life of the other person easier to understand clearly about you as a person and make informed decisions.

Thirdly, when you speak about yourself, focus on the facts rather than a judgemental statement. Rather than saying, I’m a great salesman, one might say that I am passionate in sales and do close follow-up with my customers and perform XYZ activities and I have achieved results which is considered best in the industry. But they can argue plenty if you call yourself a “great sales man”.

Fourth, you need supporting stories from your life which would act as evidences for the statement you make. However you need to be cautious that the story you tell is relevant and authentic.

Quote¹:

Self-promotion works best when it’s natural and unforced

Unquote

Most importantly, while explaining your story you need to sound crisp but humble. More often, people when faced by such a situation stay awestruck for the fear of getting isolated or alienated But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Instead, Self-Branding will help you understand yourself better as a person and would enable others to know which are your core strengths and utilising the same in the best interest of both parties.

“If you don’t tell good about yourself, then who would..!”

¹Reference: How to Promote Yourself without Looking Like a Jerk - Dorie Clark