Yes, Personal Branding is for You!

Hi, I’m Jodie Mears, I have over twenty years of administrative experience, currently working as a full-time Executive Assistant supporting C-Suite Executives daily and a full-time advocate and mentor for Administrative Professionals globally.

I have been described as “superhuman” as I thrive in taming chaos and seem to make things look easy. How? I have no idea but I do know my drive and enthusiasm fuel me. 

Being told I was “just an assistant” many moons ago lit a fire underneath me. I was then on the path to proving doubters wrong, not just for me but for all assistants, that we could do this role and earn well too. 

I began to think and act differently, I changed- and was showing up differently. I started to own the role I love and a lightbulb went off. I began to take my career seriously in 2019 – unknowingly at the time this was when I started being intentional about my personal brand.

Let’s get into it…

Do you know how many Administrative Professionals there are in the world? 

Me neither. I expect millions and don’t get me started on the vast amount of job titles out there that cover what we do.

So how are you going to be seen, heard and standout?

If you are an administrative professional of any description, looking for growth or even a pay rise or a virtual assistant business owner, maybe you need to connect with new clients and establish yourself as an influential voice in your field, if so we need to talk about personal branding.

With this blog, I aim to inspire you with my take on how to get started with your own personal brand. You’ll discover why personal branding is crucial for us as assistants, and how it can open doors to new opportunities, boost your credibility, and position you better to stand out.

It is starting to work for me where I am now seeing the results and I continue to learn more and more about it, so I wanted to share my knowledge with you.

Forget the misconceptions personal branding isn’t about being flashy or bragging, it’s about authentically showcasing your talents. By the end of this blog post, you’ll have a practical understanding to build a standout personal brand that will set you apart from the crowd.

In today’s competitive job market and ever-evolving business needs, personal branding has become an essential tool for professionals across all industries, including administrative roles. But what exactly is personal branding, and why is it so crucial for administrative professionals like executive assistants, virtual assistants, and administrative support staff?

Personal branding is your reputation across the board, both in person and online and should accurately reflect your unique personality, expertise, and achievements. 

It’s about standing tall, owning your role and coming out of the shadows to showcase your skills, experiences, and values in a way that resonates with others whether that’s a potential new employer, new clients, or industry peers.

Here’s why personal branding matters for administrative professionals: 

The Benefits

Competitive Edge

In a highly competitive job or client market, a well-thought-through personal brand can set you apart from others, highlighting your unique value proposition and making you a more attractive candidate. It allows you to differentiate yourself from the competition and demonstrate why you over others.

Credibility and Social Proof

By consistently showcasing your expertise and accomplishments, you build credibility and social proof, which can open doors to new opportunities, promotions, and leadership roles if that is what you aspire to. When potential employers, clients, or industry peers can see your track record of success and expertise, they are more likely to trust and value your abilities.

Networking and Collaboration

A strong personal brand can help you build a meaningful professional network, taking time to engage with your connections, industry peers, and potential mentors. By actively engaging and sharing your knowledge, you increase your visibility. You may now be the best but all you need to be is the best known.

Career Growth

Personal branding positions you as a go-to expert in your field, increasing your visibility in the workplace and creating opportunities for career advancement, speaking engagements, or even starting your own business. As you establish yourself as a subject matter expert, new possibilities for growth and development emerge.

Increased Confidence

The process of developing and promoting your personal brand boosts your confidence and self-assurance. When you clearly understand and communicate your value and expertise, you become better equipped to take on professional challenges head-on, thus shining a light on what you can do.

It’s how you show up for yourself. But.. it takes time and effort and I’m certain you will find the rewards are worth it. 

Here are some simple steps to get you started…

Building Your Personal Brand. Jodie’s Step-by-Step Guide

Define Your “Why”

Start by reflecting on your passions, motivations, and long-term career goals. What drives you? What impact do you want to make? What do you want for your future? This open conversation with yourself will guide the development of your personal brand and help you stay authentic.

Tell Your Story

Share your experiences, challenges, and achievements in a way that inspires and informs others. Craft a compelling narrative that highlights your unique journey and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Your story is what sets you apart and makes you relatable to your audience.

Establish an Online Presence

In today’s digital world, it is hard to avoid. It is essential. 

Create and maintain professional profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or industry-specific forums where the people you want to meet, get hired by or engage with hang out. There is social media for everything. My favourite is LinkedIn for professional and personal development. I keep personal photos and family trips for other platforms and never mix the two.

Consistency is Key

Personal branding is an ongoing process, it’s not a one-time effort, only dipping into it when you need it like a CV. It requires a lot of self-reflection, continuous improvement in professional development, and a willingness to seek feedback and collaborate with others in your field. Decide when you will commit to your personal brand and set time aside weekly to formulate your posts or activities. It is easier to make time even for the busiest of assistants with the amount of scheduling tools available to us.

Embrace Authenticity

Don’t try to imitate others; your brand should be genuine and unique to you. Showcase your authentic self, including your personality, values, and unique perspectives. Authenticity is paramount to building trust and establishing a loyal following.

Continuous Improvement

Learning and development is the key to fulfilment in our personal and professional life. We are made to learn and grow. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and news, attend professional development workshops, and courses to always stay one step ahead. You could also try mentorships who can provide valuable guidance.

Network and Collaborate

My favourite professional pastime – networking. 

Put simply, networking works. I have met people who have introduced me to people that I wished I met years ago but back then I was too afraid to network. I have an article on my LinkedIn profile “ Networking Tips for Introverted Administrative Assistants” If this is you. 

Attend industry events, join professional associations, or participate in online communities for administrative professionals. This can help you expand your network, gain new insights, and potentially open up new opportunities.

Create Valuable Content

Share your knowledge and expertise by creating valuable content. This not only positions you as an expert and go-to person but also provides an opportunity to engage with your audience and demonstrate your subject matter expertise.

Overall building a strong personal brand takes time, effort, and consistency, but the rewards are invaluable and it applies to all administrative assistants. It applies to anyone. Remember it is your reputation at scale online and in person. Investing in and knowing what power your personal brand can bring you, will not only increase your chances of success and career growth but also contribute to elevating the perception of the administrative profession as a whole. Win-win for all of us.

“Don’t underestimate the power of your personal brand”

As an administrative professional, you have a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experiences that are valuable and inspiring. There are many people out there waiting to be inspired by you, but do they know you are out there?

If this has been of value to you and you now feel motivated to reevaluate what you’re already doing or make a start, connect with me on LinkedIn and share your stories and posts with me, I would love to read them and support you.

Jodie Mears

C-Suite Executive Assistant, Co-host of The Crodie Files Podcast, Speaker, Mentor and Advocate for the Administrative Profession globally.

My mantra…

NETWORK LEARN GROW 💥

Links

Jodie’s LinkedIn Profile

The Assist List- Jodie’s Monthly Newsletter-Subscribe on LinkedIn

Podcast Website

The Crodie Files Podcast Episodes

The Crodie Files LinkedIn Page

By Jodie Mears

Jodie began her career circa twenty years ago as a purchase ledger clerk, supporting the needs of account managers within the UK energy supply markets, and quickly moved into high-level administrative support roles, ranging from Receptionist, Senior Administrative Assistant / Ethics & Compliance Coordinator within the Aerospace industry, to currently supporting two C-Suite Global Executives as a strategic EA in the digital sector. Experienced in supporting senior leadership, ethics & compliance coordination and support in technical development teams, as well as bids & proposals within the aerospace markets (airports and airline technologies). Jodie also served as a founding committee member of a successful corporate wellness & wellbeing Initiative in 2018. She played an active role in organising internal events and engaging with employees worldwide. Always taking her career and self-development into her own hands, Jodie thrives on levelling up in business attributes and skills as well as gaining tremendous self-accomplishment when creatively inspiring others to do the same. More recently, Jodie has contributed as an advisory board member of the UK's largest exhibition for administrative professionals- The PA Show, as well as volunteering for one year as a regional representative and global operations advisor for an award-winning global networking and lifestyle platform for administrative professionals, with attendance at many in-person and online events, mentoring and supporting our industry.

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