Branding Matters: For Yourself, Your Team & Your Organization
In this age of fast-changing technological growth, brands must adapt and evolve. Recent data reveals that 89% of consumers will buy from a brand they follow on social media. Companies can connect with and hear from their consumers like never before. Not only does the look and feel of a brand matter, but the voice, purpose and cultural impact of a company’s brand matter even more. Organizations are accessible online; and because of that accessibility, it’s necessary that they are clear and consistent in their messaging. But what is a brand communicating?
In this article, we explore the significance of a personal brand, a team’s brand and an organization’s brand. We offer leadership tips to help you grow, adapt and evolve your brand as well as the influence you have on both your team’s brand and company’s brand.
The Importance of a Brand
Your Personal Brand. This isn’t reserved for influencers. And it’s not something to be curated. Your personal brand is something to be developed as you grow into the person you’re becoming. And it’s not isolated from your personal life—because how you show up at home impacts how you show up at work. Your personal brand becomes what people expect of you. If you often run five minutes late, that becomes a part of your brand. If people know they can approach you for a listening ear and sound advice, then that becomes a part of your brand. How we lead ourselves in our daily lives, those little choices that we may think are inconsequential, are the very things that create our personal brand. Self-leadership impacts all areas of life. And the good news is that no matter what age or stage you find yourself in, you always have an opportunity for growth, you can always make a positive change and you can absolutely become the person you’ve always wanted to be.
Your Team’s Brand. Just as people develop reputations, so do teams. And each person on a team contributes to that reputation. So what is your team known for? And how does a team develop a reputation that’s seen as high-producing, collaborative and innovative? Well, you start with coaching leadership. And when people are leading themselves well both at work and at home, you’ll find a dynamic team ready to rally together toward a shared vision, cheering one another on and picking one another up when needed. And as a team leader, you get the privilege of getting to know each team member during your regular one-on-ones so that you can help them succeed in their roles and help the team collectively win.
Your Organization’s Brand. Think of one of your favorite brands. What comes to mind? Why do you like them? Why are you loyal to them? Consumers often support brands that they develop a connection with—and that connection runs deeper than just the product or service offered. So it’s vital to listen to your consumers. And what do consumers today want? Authenticity. In a study by Stackla, it was revealed that 88% of consumers consider authenticity to be a key factor when deciding what brands they like and support. And to be an authentic brand, you must be an aligned, consistent and evolving company. When your company is aligned around an organizational vision, you’ll see consistency; and when your company is willing to grow, change and innovate, you’ll see evolution. And when an organization evolves, it stays current and accessible to its audience.
If you want to better understand how your self-leadership impacts your personal brand, team’s brand and organization’s brand, then we’d love to help. Our team of executive coaches work with leaders to help them find purpose, create vision and foster consistency in their lives and leadership. Reach out, we’d love to walk with you.
