What are people saying about you?

Think about staying at a Ritz-Carlton Hotel. What words come to mind to describe your experience? Words such as “luxury,” “pampered” and “service-oriented.” You probably won’t hear words like “adequate,” “cheap” or “budget conscious.”

Why is this? Because the Ritz-Carlton Hotels have established a unique brand for themselves, one that is on the higher-end of other hotel chains. But what’s most important about their brand is they are consistent. People are saying the same thing about them, time over time, every time they stay at a Ritz-Carlton hotel.

Now think about a time when you had to interact with someone on the job and they reacted in such a way that was unexpected. It may have been a boss, a co-worker or a colleague. Maybe they were in a bad mood or they simply had no time for you or they shut you down and didn’t listen to what you had to say. What did you think when that occurred? Over time you would think that person was unpredictable since you never know what to expect, and this would change your impression of them and the way in which you interact with them as a result.

When people talk about you, you want them to say things that are consistent with the brand you want to be known for, just like the Ritz-Carlton Hotels. Would you continue to stay at Ritz-Carlton Hotels if your experience was anything less than consistent? The answer is no because consistency is the essence of a solid brand. You see, everything either attracts or detracts from your personal brand. Your verbal and non-verbal cues, your reaction to things, your attitude. People experience you in such a way that they form an opinion of what to expect from you, whether it’s positive or negative. If you’re always in a good mood that is reflected in the way in which others interact with you. You will appear friendly and approachable. But if your behavior is unpredictable that could detract from you having a solid brand.

Branding ultimately comes down to consistency. In a personal brand that translates into dependability of behavior, time over time, every time. People know what to expect and therefore everyone is saying the same thing about you. Being consistent, every day, in your actions and behavior is essential to deliver a solid brand. If your brand stands for someone who takes initiative then you need to demonstrate taking initiative in everything you say and do, not just when you’re having a good day. A consistent image helps you build a strong brand!

What are people saying about you and is it consistent? In my next blog I’ll discuss a simple tool to help identify and close any branding gaps that may exist.

Sage Alliance, a Leadership Performance Company, provides coaching, teambuilding and assessments, workshops and speaking on topics including; leadership development, empowering teams, communications, lasting impressions, personal branding and building a coaching culture for executives and high-potentials – for both team and individual leaders.

Contact us today to discover how your organization can get the most through improved productivity, efficiency and direct impact to your bottom line, while leaders gain powerful insight, crystallize opportunities for growth and fine tune their strengths, enabling them to make the greatest impact. You can contact Shelley Hammell directly at shammell@thesagealliance.com.