. .If you don’t know or cannot answer the question, “What makes you unique?” how will anyone in a brief encounter like an interview or network meeting figure this out?
Of course you don’t actually say, “I am unique because …..”, but you do need to highlight the things that define you and that make you unique and interesting.
You must discover, get comfortable with, and take pride in what you bring to the world. People appreciate authenticity and a clear message. Your personal brand is formed when you understand why you stand out from the crowd.
“It is key to highlight what makes you unique otherwise you will just blend in & be forgotten.”
A concise answer to the question that is in everyone’s mind, “why are you interesting and why should I connect with you?” allows you to position your value and helps your audience remember you. Actually it motivates them to remember you which is very important when you want help to open doors and uncover job opportunities.
5 Steps to Highlight Why You are Unique and be Memorable
1. Connect to your purpose. Understand the “Why” of what you’re doing. “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it” (Simon Sinek). Watched Simon Sinek’s TED talk. It is easy and boring to describe ‘what you do’ but when you tap into and share ‘why you do it’, your energy goes up, your eyes sparkle, and people listen.
2. Ask your existing clients why they chose you. Who knows better than the people who chose you over the competition? Help them drill down by probing beyond the “I think you’re good” response. Ask, Why do you think I’m good? What exactly do I do best? How am I helping you?” This is enlightening. What you think is important to your clients, may differ from what they think. Find out what they value and it will cement your relationship.
3. Identify your passion. What aspect of your job do you enjoy most? This would translate into your strengths. Gain insight from performance reviews and co-worker feedback. A theme should surface here. When you love what you do, you do it well.
4. Make a list of your character traits and core values. Branding can be your life experiences, sense of humor, communication style. Think beyond the results you provide to personal core values. Are you an excellent listener? Do you follow-through well? Are you direct? These character traits define your brand. Lead with them.
5. Compose your 30 second elevator speech. Answer these three questions:
Who you are? This is not your title, but what it is you do – the value you deliver.
Whom do you serve? These would be the recipients of what you do. Get granular here, who is it that benefits from what you do?
How do you help? What exactly is it that you are providing to the people you serve? Are you saving them time, providing financial security, finding them a home to raise their children in?
People choose to work with people, not companies. They buy you first, or they buy nothing at all. Let them see what it is they’re gaining in a relationship and a person.
There really is no one else exactly like you. You are uniquely awesome. Only you have the combination of strengths, passions, purpose, experiences, apptitudes, style, and reputation that wonderfully combine to make you.
If you would like to explore further how to discover, illuminate, and communicate your brand so people love, like and remember you I recommend you actually complete the above 5 steps. Other helpful tools include:
1. Three Big Questions by Dave Phillips – book and Kindle available at Amazon
2. In-Depth career and leadership psychometric assessment using the Birkman Method with coaching support from myslef, Leanne Abraham.
3. Career Coaching, & Branding Strategy with career coach, Leanne Abraham. Includes an in-depth career assessment.