10 tips from Lindsay Shoemake on growing your personal brand

Lindsay Shoemake is a Social Media & Digital Marketing Manager in the luxury space in Denver. When she’s not “working”, Lindsay is the founder of career site That Working Girl, which aims to empower women toward invigorating careers in the media industry. Lindsay has been featured for her expertise in PR, marketing and branding by notable media outlets like USA Today, JEZEBEL Magazine and The Huffington Post Live. In the future, Lindsay hopes to launch a successful branding and PR firm, with a focus on serving lifestyle and creative brands.

Leaders in Heels spoke to Lindsay to get her top tips for growing your personal brand.

The Importance of having a personal brand

By now, most of us have heard the term “personal brand.” Whether you first heard about the importance of building your brand in a college classroom or in a boardroom at work, all of this branding talk isn’t just for naught – having a strong personal brand is a valid way to create a cohesive, expressive identity for yourself.

Having grown my own personal brand and a strong brand for That Working Girl over the last few years, below are my top 10 tips for growing a stellar personal brand that will set you apart from others in your industry.

1. Make authenticity #1

I’ve quickly learned that people are drawn to authenticity. When curating your personal brand, be you – not the fake, veneer version of you. Take pride in your quirks and uniqueness, and lend those qualities to your overall brand. After all, who would Coco Chanel have been without her signature oversized pearls, or Lady Gaga without her outlandish stage outfits?

2. Choose your voice

This can just as likely apply to bloggers as it can to professionals – hone your “voice”, or your communication style, and keep it consistent. This will lend itself to your personal brand in a major way.

3. Commit to a branding scheme

I know – commitment can be scary. That’s why I think it’s smart to take a reasonable chunk of time to decide on your branding scheme, and stick to one that you love! Whether this means employing a talented graphic designer or a creative friend or help you, it’s totally worth it. This branding scheme will translate onto your business cards, email signature, personal website and more. Invest in it.

4. Get feedback on your brand

It might seem awkward asking for feedback on your overall personal branding scheme, but meeting with a close friend or colleague who understands your work style and what you stand for might be a great way to ensure that you’re being 100% authentic while building your brand. You can never get enough insight or useful feedback!

5. Stay social on social media

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the constant chatter on social media, but an important component of maintaining your personal brand is making an effort to actively participate in social media. Is being an avid traveller a component of your personal brand? Participate in a weekly Twitter chat regarding travel and represent yourself as an expert in your field. Connecting with others in your industry and areas of interest is a great way to boost your overall brand.

6. Seek out opportunities to educate

In the same vein of participating in social media online in regard to topics that best represent you, take things offline and seek out opportunities to educate others. Whether this means speaking at seminars or hosting monthly workshops, taking your great persona offline is a great way to grow and hone your personal brand.

7. Mind the little online details

When it comes to branding, the little details matter. Make sure that your social media profiles are all registered under the same handle, your profile pictures are consistent, and that the design and colours used within your profiles are similar.

8. Network, ladies!

Networking can be daunting, I get it. But what’s the point in building an awesome personal brand if you aren’t willing to show it off every now and then? Research local networking events in your area and make a point to go to one or two each month. You will be amazed at how many interesting people you’ll meet, and how many will walk away remembering your personal brand.

9. Sell yourself

Especially for entrepreneurs, having a polished personal brand is a great way to land new clients. If you’re a business owner, hone in on your strengths while branding yourself, and drive home those key attributes in your overall personal brand. Are you an expert communicator? Tie a blog component onto your personal brand!

10. Perfect your elevator pitch

One thing that I love about elevator pitches is the fact that they really force you to get to know yourself – in 30 concise seconds or less. As the cherry on top of your personal brand, polish your elevator pitch to really convey who you are. Be selective with your adjectives and make sure that they’re reflective of the authentic you. You’ll be ready to shine in no time!

Want to learn more about a few ladies I admire with impressive, strong personal brands? Check out Lara Casey, Emily Ley and Mandy Kellogg Rye!

Featured Photo Credit: Stefano Principato via Flickr

Top ten workplace trends for 2015

As we settle into 2015 and back into work (kinda hurts doesn’t it?), many of us will be thinking about what the year ahead holds in store for us career-wise – a promotion? New job? Or, is it finally time to launch that business idea?

Regardless of our individual paths, it is clear that Australian workplaces and the way we work are changing. Expert 360, an online platform matching professional freelancers with short-term business projects, has predicted the top ten workplace trends of 2015. From the rise of the Millennials, to yoga pants as accepted work attire (really?), here’s what we can expect from 2015:

1. Continuous job searching

Remember how our parents stayed with the same company for 30 years? Well those days are over. Employees are constantly on the look out for the next job. Networking is the new norm and the ever-present FOMO (fear of missing out) keeps everyone engaged. Smart businesses are starting to pick up on this and are nurturing this desire to excel.

2. More Millennials stepping up as boss

The young ones generally get a bad rap at work – judged as lazy, over-educated know-it-alls who want something for nothing. But beneath this façade is a generation of young individuals who crave the opportunity to take on leadership positions. A recent study revealed 72% of Millennials (also known as Gen Y) would like to be their own boss and the rise of young guns such as Mark Zuckerberg shows that there is a place for young people to lead.

3. Casual wear

Women on the street are wearing LuluLemon and Lorna Jane with no intention of going to the gym. Yoga pants are now acceptable work attire. Causal Fridays extend across the working week and ties on men are an aberration. Pioneered by Google, this trend speaks to a need to express individuality at work, which can lead to increased productivity and innovation.

4. Internships

By 2020, 40% of the total working population will be Millennials and internships are crucial in giving them that first taste of the working world. Emerging trends in internships have seen the rise of virtual internships within the financial and consulting industries. Recent legislation in Australia and abroad reflects the importance of internships as a legitimate form of employment.

5. Working remotely

Rapidly evolving technology and more flexible working arrangements means that the bricks and mortar of workplaces are not required for employees to do their jobs properly. Employees can now work from home, or be in a completely different city, and still achieve the same results.

6. Fast talent turnaround

Remember the days when you scoured the Saturday paper for job ads and sent your CV to the company by post? It feels like an eternity ago. Now, companies want to connect with the right candidate and hire faster than ever before. It won’t be long until the Tinder for recruitment disrupts the market.

7. Work is deeply personal

We have long sought the perfect ‘work-life balance’. However, work is now deeply personal, so instead of trying to balance two separate spheres of our lives we will be seeking ‘work-life integration’, where we want to see the value of what we do.

8. Cultural fit – hiring for cultural reasons

Cultural fit and character are now key considerations when assessing potential candidates, with many employers adopting the ‘hire character, train skill’ approach. Our multigenerational workforce, with Millennials and baby boomers working alongside each other, means ensuring there is an alignment on the values and vision of the company is critical in bridging the age gap. Your management style might need to change depending on who you deal with.

9. Talent development key to retention

With corporate loyalty a thing of the past, one way employers are trying to hold onto staff is through talent development programs. Once reserved for those at the top of the pyramid, we are seeing career development programs and skill workshops at every level of the corporate hierarchy.

10. The rise of the freelancer

30% of Australians are now undertaking some form of flexible freelance work. If we follow US trends, by 2020, this number is expected to rise by 50%. Technology has been one of the main drivers behind this trend, making it easy for businesses to connect to talent on demand.

Have you seen any of these changes in your workplace? What are your predictions for 2015? Leave your comments below.

Featured photo credit: Pixabay

Mentoring key to gender equality in the workplace

A survey of leading Australian businesswomen found 78 per cent believe that active sponsorship as well as mentoring are essential tools to breaking down barriers for women in business.

The survey of 125 state and territory finalists in the 2014 Telstra Business Women’s Awards focused on changes business women have experienced in the 20 years since the Telstra Awards were launched.

When asked what issues need to be addressed for women in business, finalists named the deficit of senior leadership opportunities and gender pay equality, with 39 per cent saying they have encountered a pay gap compared with a male doing the same job.

when women work collectively to help each other, we will see more women thrive in business

Sponsorship Encourages Confidence

There are no quick fixes for increasing the representation of women in senior leadership positions and achieving pay equality; however, the finalists named sponsorship and mentoring as key to tackling gender equality in the workplace.

Sponsorship is believed to encourage confidence, with 83 per cent of respondents saying “confidence to challenge and influence authority” is one of the key personal attributes women need to succeed in business.

Of those surveyed, 84 per cent take on responsibility to mentor the next generation of women, while 73 per cent currently have or have had a mentor or sponsor.

Vanessa Nolan-Woods, the General Manager at Commonwealth Bank’s Women in Focus, said, “when women work collectively to help each other, we will see more women thrive in business”.

At Women in Focus, they bring together “women from a diverse range of industry and experience to share their experiences and learn from one another, from both their triumphs and challenges. It’s these connections that provide for businesses to grow and women in business to flourish”.

Find a Work-Life Balance

For women, success in business depends not only one performance in the workplace, but also in achieving the elusive work-life balance.

When asked how they balance work and personal commitments many women said they outsourced activities such as cleaning, ironing, childcare and gardening. Family support and technology were listed as the most important factors helping women achieve work-life balance.

In order to prevent burnout, the Award finalists emphasised the importance of exercises, with ninety-six per cent believing their physical fitness influenced their focus and positivity at work. Other tips included diarising personal time, taking regular short breaks and meditation.

Advice from those in the know

In the spirit of women helping women, ten pieces of advice the finalists said they would give other women included:

  • Be honest with yourself and others;
  • Listen to all advice, but stay true to your beliefs and values;
  • Back yourself and draw on your intuition and emotional intelligence to make better choices;
  • Never give up or let your ego get in the way;
  • If you are a leader, scaffold other women to follow your path;
  • Be your authentic self;
  • Lead with confidence, flexibility and compassion;
  • Praise, praise, praise;
  • Learn to say ‘no’ at times and don’t apologise for it; and
  • Be exceptional at what you do and your gender won’t matter.

Thirty-seven women who won the 2014 state and territory awards are national finalists for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. For finalists and winners across Australia, the Awards offer a share in $650,000 in cash and prizes. The National Finals were held in Melbourne on 26 November 2014. More information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards can be found at http://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com

Featured Photo: Pixabay