Building your personal brand

Ms Manners,

I see that you are an expert in both areas of etiquette and personal brands. Are these concepts linked?

Business etiquette is an awareness and with any awareness it’s important to look inward, at ourselves and who we are, our personal traits and our brand.

Your personal brand is so important and you should be portraying an image in all your business relationships.

This encourages forward thinking too. What are you working towards (besides an early retirement)? Are you hoping to become director, a manager, or the smartest entrepreneur in town?

How do you think someone else portrays the image of the role you want, what does that successful person look like? Are they intelligent and educated, charming, witty, suave?

What traits do they show? These are the questions you should be asking yourself all the time and constantly work towards your personal brand.

Why do you think every great company has a full marketing team? They ask themselves these branding questions every day.

You should be no different if you also want to be successful in what you do. It is really important that you have these thoughts about yourself.

So how do you think personal brand links in with business etiquette? You are the service and product of your business.

Your dealings must be backed up by your behaviours and etiquette will help guide you through your work days.

Language, swearing, being drunk, like really drunk – what would you think if it was the third time you met this person and they have displayed this behaviour each time?

You would think that’s just who they are. This is why it’s important to be aware of your behaviours and how other people might perceive them. Think of your personal brand. Does your behaviour complement how you want to be portrayed?

Enjoy your new confidence and the game of etiquette.

Kind Regards,

Ms. Manners