Like it or not, you already have a personal brand.

Maybe you’ve been intentional about shaping yours, or maybe it’s something you’ve never even thought about—but either way, people are making up their own story about who you are.

(Today’s Tea Time was inspired by this article: “Having a Personal Brand at Work is Key for Introverts.” )

When you take an active role and speak up for yourself, that story can lead to more aligned opportunities for you.

This doesn’t mean you need to be calculated or “on” all the time, but if you’re heading into a networking event, or even just having a conversation with your skip level, this GOAL framework can help:

• G – Go in with intention (know why you’re there)
• O – Open-ended questions (lead with curiosity)
• A – Authentic introduction (your personal brand statement*)
• L – Loop back (follow up within 48 hours)

*Here’s the foundational template I teach in my “Crafting Your Strengths-Based Personal Brand” workshop:

I’m (name and what you want to be known for). I help (audience) (problem you solve) with/by/through/without (your unique approach/solution).

If you want to read more about this, I wrote about 3 common networking mistakes (and what to do instead) on the blog.

And if you’d like expert support crafting your own personal branding statement—the one that makes it easy and natural to introduce yourself and attract more aligned opportunities—I can help. Book a 1:1 Strategy Session or Private Workshop here: https://nicolebensen.com/strategy.

– Nicole