Differentiating oneself in the workforce today may hold the key for many employees who are keenly interested and highly motivated to survive downsizing. While it may take extra effort, the payoff can be exponentially greater both short and long range; for the employee and the company. With discipline, determination, and drive, employees can make their mark strategically, fashionably and with ingenuity to elevate their “shine”.
Why Differentiate?
Much like a business, brand awareness, credibility, and association of product are important. Human capital in the workforce can benefit by applying her own brand to her professional self.
In an experience educating employees on professional branding, I shared my most closely guarded daily motivational strategy. “My day begins by going to work for Kashlak, Inc.” Chuckles and curious grins gleaned my way and silence fell upon the room of leadership.
Explaining my line of thinking further, the room quickly realized the value of having a professional brand. For the visionaries and innovators, enthusiasm and buzz elevated the room for the remainder of the session.
It was in that three syllable comment, Kashlak, Inc. that my brand was established amongst 85 clients. They “got it”! Innovation, risk, and commodity were just a few of the immediate perceptions.
As human resources professionals take on more than ever, risk mitigation, healthy human capital psyche, and strategic innovation are all consuming.
Asking employees to identify their brand is as simple as developing a brand for a business. What do you want to be known for? What are your best attributes? What is your greatest brag?
The Payoff.
Helping employees understand professional brand differentiation in the workplace will lead to an overall healthy psyche of employees as long as the brands are exercised on a regular basis. The three D’s are crucial during the first 30 days of this exercise and must be reinforced by the department head.
The benefits of differentiating include:
No cost to the company as the exercise can be set up simply during a standard meeting.
Increased self esteem, covetable skills, and increased productivity.
A focus on natural strengths and talents.
Individualization and self worth.
Appreciation of strengths in others.
Elevated internal resource identification by employee for special projects or expert advice.
Retention of top talent.
Leveraging talent strengths which are visible and respected in functioning teams.
Many more!
Do not wait…Differentiate!!
Get Moving!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Recession got you down? Progression will pick you up!
by: Tina Kashlak, PHR www.resumewritersink.com
The economic blues will be green with envy with a solid strategic plan in place to increase your marketability if unemployed, retain leverage in your existing position or open new doors if change is suddenly placed upon you.
I often speak on the importance of 'owning your career' and 'seeing yourself as a commodity’ with the goal of growing your brand into a profitable business. This holds true during the toughest of times. Now more than ever you need to make smart decisions to catapult yourself towards your goals.
Designing your plan can be simple. I strongly believe, 'less is more' as it will create a strong foundation.
Begin by creating two areas that need attention. Your personal self and your professional self are listed below with critical questions that you must answer. Get a sheet of paper and get busy.
Personal Self
What am I doing that is working well? (health, exercise, home, self, relationships, kids, pets, hobbies, etc.) Target your top 3 strengths with a 1-2-3.
What have I been neglecting? (health, exercise, home, self, relationships, kids, pets, hobbies, etc.) Choose as many that apply. Target bottom three with a 1-2-3
Choose your #1's from both your strength list and bottom list. You now have your personal plan set.
Sample:
I am great at...
1-Cooking healthy meals
2-Taking care of my pets
3-Spending time with my kids
I need to work on...
1-Working out/fitness
2-Taking care of my home (specifically the lawn)
3-Home repairs
Once you select your top and bottom areas, put a weekly plan in place. By strengthening areas that come naturally to you, you will become even more proficient and look forward to the rewards that you gain by accomplishing these tasks on an ongoing basis. By making small improvements on your challenge areas, you will begin to gain confidence and start feeling better about yourself. Before long, your challenge will become a strength taking on the #3 spot in the "I am good at..." bucket. In short, the challenge will have been promoted.
Build in an extra 2 hours per week into the the event that you want to focus on; 1 hour per event. Start out slowly by spreading the hour out over the course of a week. By dedicating 10 minutes a day (Monday-Saturday) on this event, you will be setting a new pattern towards a goal that you have been putting off. Within 30 days, you will have made significant progress in your personal strength and personal challenge.
So you say...this is basic. YES...IT IS!!! It is so basic that we often forget to break our professional challenges down as simply. Let's take a look at how this same formula can and will work on your professional brand.
Professional Self Sample:
I am great at:
1-Meeting People
2-Organization
3-Strategic Planning
I need to work on:
1-Confidence
2-Time Management
3-Stress Management
As you did with your personal self, do the same with your professional self. If you are a good at meeting people (socially, while running errands, at church, etc.) make the most of each interaction. If people flock to you naturally, think about how you can make the connection by creating an elevated sense of credibility in letting folks know what you do for a living. Invite people to join you in your social networking pages on the internet. WHAT???? You aren't on LinkedIn? Now's the time to join!! (www.linkedin.com) If you meet someone at the gym because you are now spending 10 minutes a day on the treadmill, suggest that you link in. Take your strength to the next level.
As for your professional challenge area...your confidence will increase 10 fold by making small daily adjustments.
This method is simple, easy to use and effective. Before long, you will begin to see positive results in both aspects of your life; personal and professional. This will give you the upper hand in the workplace and likely be seen as a commodity. If you are seeking employment, this method will give you the extra push that you need in reaching out for assistance in marketing your best talents to land a position.
I firmly believe in the adage, "when the going gets tough...the tough get going"!!
(Part one of a three part series)
Turning your Strength into a Cash Earning Business During the Economy!!!
I am great at:
1-Meeting People
2-Organization
3-Strategic Planning
I need to work on:
1-Confidence
2-Time Management
3-Stress Management
As you did with your personal self, do the same with your professional self. If you are a good at meeting people (socially, while running errands, at church, etc.) make the most of each interaction. If people flock to you naturally, think about how you can make the connection by creating an elevated sense of credibility in letting folks know what you do for a living. Invite people to join you in your social networking pages on the internet. WHAT???? You aren't on LinkedIn? Now's the time to join!! (www.linkedin.com) If you meet someone at the gym because you are now spending 10 minutes a day on the treadmill, suggest that you link in. Take your strength to the next level.
As for your professional challenge area...your confidence will increase 10 fold by making small daily adjustments.
This method is simple, easy to use and effective. Before long, you will begin to see positive results in both aspects of your life; personal and professional. This will give you the upper hand in the workplace and likely be seen as a commodity. If you are seeking employment, this method will give you the extra push that you need in reaching out for assistance in marketing your best talents to land a position.
I firmly believe in the adage, "when the going gets tough...the tough get going"!!
(Part one of a three part series)
Turning your Strength into a Cash Earning Business During the Economy!!!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Branding YOU in all that you do.
Pinkberry, Disney and Michael Jackson have one thing in common...their brand identification. Career success starts with your brand and the the legacy that you leave behind.
Such a basic simple concept and yet still so many executives, middle management and the like miserably continue to fail in conceptualizing, designing and living their brand.
It's no wonder that corporate America continues to promote the inept, rally the wrongdoers and lube up the revolving door in corporate offices throughout the US.
In my 20+ years working in Human Resources with branded corporations, I have enjoyed working with top executives, learning from incoming greenbeans and gaining promotional recognition for a job well done.
Either I'm no longer wet behind the ears and my eyes are wide open or executive leadership is extinct! I think it's both.
Why is it that a pop star can create a brand (whether good or bad) and have a strong following yet our top executives cannot. How can a theme park create a brand that bleeds quality, service tradition and memories for decades? How can a frosty pink treat melt into our lives leaving a desire for more with a price point that may be considered a bit outrageous? It's simple...they brand themselves with longevity in mind.
As a leader in HR and coach to many, I continue to encourage all levels of leadership on the importance of having a quality brand. YOUR legacy and seeing yourself as a corporation are #1 in having staying power in today's economy.
Each day, before setting foot on the floor, I go inward to reinforce what KASHLAK INC is going to accomplish. I work for KASHLAK INC each and every day! My mission statement and core values bleed into all that I do.
Success starts with you!
For more tips on how you can develop your professional and personal brand to increase stamina, staying power and a competitive edge in the workplace, visit http://www.resumewritersink.com/ or email me at kkashlak1@cfl.rr.com with questions and comments.
"Building a future of a better brand....one blog at a time!"
Kashlak Inc.
Such a basic simple concept and yet still so many executives, middle management and the like miserably continue to fail in conceptualizing, designing and living their brand.
It's no wonder that corporate America continues to promote the inept, rally the wrongdoers and lube up the revolving door in corporate offices throughout the US.
In my 20+ years working in Human Resources with branded corporations, I have enjoyed working with top executives, learning from incoming greenbeans and gaining promotional recognition for a job well done.
Either I'm no longer wet behind the ears and my eyes are wide open or executive leadership is extinct! I think it's both.
Why is it that a pop star can create a brand (whether good or bad) and have a strong following yet our top executives cannot. How can a theme park create a brand that bleeds quality, service tradition and memories for decades? How can a frosty pink treat melt into our lives leaving a desire for more with a price point that may be considered a bit outrageous? It's simple...they brand themselves with longevity in mind.
As a leader in HR and coach to many, I continue to encourage all levels of leadership on the importance of having a quality brand. YOUR legacy and seeing yourself as a corporation are #1 in having staying power in today's economy.
Each day, before setting foot on the floor, I go inward to reinforce what KASHLAK INC is going to accomplish. I work for KASHLAK INC each and every day! My mission statement and core values bleed into all that I do.
Success starts with you!
For more tips on how you can develop your professional and personal brand to increase stamina, staying power and a competitive edge in the workplace, visit http://www.resumewritersink.com/ or email me at kkashlak1@cfl.rr.com with questions and comments.
"Building a future of a better brand....one blog at a time!"
Kashlak Inc.
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