Authenticity and your brand
One of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes is, “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!” This captures in catchy wordplay that you can’t escape who you are. This is also the essence of authenticity, which is the bedrock of your personal brand and will help you better connect and build relationships with people. Just being you makes the personal branding process easier, too. You don’t have to act like the Grinch when you feel like the Cat in the Hat. Remember, it’s tough to perform and sustain a persona that’s not inherently within your nature.
In the early stages of developing or repositioning your brand, you’re identifying strengths, challenges, values, and passions. All of this culminates in the promise of what you provide to your audience, whether it is great content, strong work ethic, or specific expertise. In summary, you are getting in touch with your authentic self and figuring out how to position your skills in the marketplace. Your authenticity also needs to be balanced with a good sense of how much to share, what to share, and when to share it.
Read the full article on The New Social Worker Magazine