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.
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!!
