This is for you if you are tired of being overlooked.
Many folks with less experience and knowledge are leading conversations that you can handle easily even without any preparation.
You have tried everything you know how to do. You are brilliant on paper and at work, but still not where you should be. The promotion has not arrived. The salary increase you deserve continues to pass you by.
You have the advanced degrees. Lots of certifications or certificates.
Several years of experience.
Constantly learning and improving yourself, yet nothing.
You are the most capable person in the room, brilliant, smart, likable, approachable, still nothing.
But here’s something I have seen (it’s very common) – folks in AI, tech, privacy or cybersecurity hiding their personal brands because they have great jobs, awesome titles and good salaries.
In this economy, you don’t hide when you should shine.
This is about strategic positioning. You have seen the layoffs. Perhaps you have already experienced it or going through it right now.
Here’s What You Should Know
1. Leaders with strong personal brands get tapped for greater roles.
2. Executives with strong personal brands become thought leaders in their space and even get media opportunities that lead to higher roles, partnerships and deals.
3. Leaders with strong personal brands get invited into bigger rooms (some doors start to open from inside because they are seen and heard).
4. Your personal brand carries power that cannot be ignored. Your gifts, talents, knowledge and expertise deserve visibility within AND beyond the workplace.
What Should You Do Now?
Here’s what will actually help you, and if you have not started it yet, you are already behind.
1. Take the stage.
You already carry so much knowledge and power that the world needs. Stop hoarding it. Your elevation catalyst is already within you, that is your personal brand. Release it.
2. Stop shrinking when you should be shining.
Talk more about what you do, the problems you solve brilliantly and let the world know about them.
3. Start speaking.
Start writing. Start making yourself and your expertise visible. The microphone isn’t only for founders. Great employees like you need to hold it and use their voices for maximum impact.
4. Take yourself to places where opportunities are being shared!
Go, even if the voice of defeat tries to whisper that you are unqualified to be in the room. Have conversations with people. Be strategically visible. Ask questions. Answer questions.
Prepare an elevation pitch style intro about your experience and expertise. Be ready to talk about it anytime.
Your next employer is in that conference hall but they won’t know you exist if they do not hear or see you.
5. Let your brand speak for you before you even enter the room.
How? Launch and implement it even if you already work your 9-5. Intrapreneurship is great too!
- Don’t blur or place your brilliance on the back burner.
- Visibility is currency. It is not optional, but a necessity.
- Attention is currency.
- Your voice is currency.
- Your visible presence is currency.
This is not a popularity contest but about being undeniable inside and outside your organization. Yes, document your experience and expertise on paper (your resume) but own your power confidently.
Ready to stop being the best kept secret in the room?
You need strategy! I work with high performing professionals in tech, privacy, cyber, and AI who are done playing small and ready to be seen, heard, and valued.
No gimmicks or fluff. Book your coaching slot now (space is limited, only 2 remaining this month). They are not for people who like to continue to think about things. They are for people who are ready to move. You belong in the room. Let’s make it happen.
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
Belinda is an award winning thought leader on mindset, global speaker, privacy and cybersecurity professional, AI governance leader, 5X author, executive coach and strategist. Through consulting, conference keynotes, and corporate trainings, she helps individuals to achieve goals, and make maximum impact in their spheres of influence.
