Despite the doom and gloom, now is not the time to shy away from your branding activities.

This goes for both executives and consultants.

After all, how will you help more people if you can’t be found? Plus your staff and peers need you to be leading visibly now more than ever, and that’s far easier to do when you’re clearly and congruently branded.

Yet many of the women I speak with tell me they’re overwhelmed with busyness and have put their branding efforts on hold. Instead, they’re in survival mode as they …

• roll up their sleeves and pitch in during a tough time
• look out for everyone else, but forget to look out for themselves, and
• go head down, backside up inside their organisation fixing complex problems and cleaning up after everyone else.

In a nutshell, many of us are rolling from one Zoom room to another all day every day, which leaves you limp and exhausted with nothing left in your tank for “brand you”.  All the while your own future aspirations have been put on the back burner.

Given everyone is so busy I’ve kept this really simple – here are five easy ways to bolster your brand even in a recession.

Five Ways to Bolster Your Brand During a Recession

1. Be bold

Bland = boring. I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again. It might feel safe as you rarely get criticised, but it’s not over the long term. People switch off as your messaging and branding efforts stay hidden amidst so many others. Given that leaders need to be visible now more than ever, you’ll need to be prepared to get out of your own way to start executing bold moves so you don’t drop back into the doldrums of excuses and busyness again.

2. Be brave

Have the courage of conviction and be prepared to stand out for all the right reasons.

• What do you stand for?
• Why is that important?
• How does it add value?

Our society confuses confidence with competence and even more so when the going gets tough. As per the Helen Reddy’s anthem “I am woman, hear me roar”. No more hiding your light under a bushel.

3. Be future-focused

Just like you dress for the role you want, not the role you have, your branding efforts need to be the same.  Work out what you’re aiming for, what your goal and intent is.  Then align your branding efforts towards the opportunities you want in the future, not necessarily the opportunity you currently have. Embody the brand you want to be.

4. Be authentic

Bringing your authentic self to the branding table can feel terrifying. Authenticity is a daily practice and should permeate your personal and professional self.

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.”

— Brené Brown

When we do bring our more authentic self to the table, something magical happens. Others will identify with you, and you’ll build your tribe more easily. Plus imposter syndrome will be a thing of the past as your branding efforts feel more congruent with who you are as a person.

5. Be extraordinary

Why settle for average when you can have extraordinary instead? Tackling your branding, career and life with an extraordinary mindset, might just be the thing that helps you see what else is possible. You never know your luck and you might just get there!

FINALLY

There is an old saying “People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

Don’t let your small self, tell you how to live your life. Keep your branding efforts going despite the economic downturn.

In fact, now is the time you’ll likely need them more.

#womenofimpact #ICreateSheroes #selfpromotionmatters