Invested in your personal brand lately?
Ambitious people trying to make a difference have the potential to lead thought in the category they work in. Of the people I work with, each of them has their own unique talents, but there is also a consistency – they all wish to leave a legacy in the organisations they lead. To do this they invest in new learning, constantly, and it makes all the difference.
Best practice investment has a purpose.
If you wish to lead the pack you run in, then you must invest in new learning and skills development that will help you do that. The consequence of this is to position yourself as a subject matter expert. Do this well enough and you move from being a mere expert to an authority, which gives you the ultimate opportunity to lead. Authorities are the first point of contact when people seek an opinion, advice or engagement. It’s the position any leader must aim to hold.
True leadership seeks lifelong learning.
A key observation of successful business leaders is that they never stop seeking ways to enhance their personal brand. They know that their job is to inspire others, to lead. In every sense they are thought leaders, they seek to shape events, make an impression, move a business or community to a new place. They believe that a constant focus on learning will enable them to do this.
So how often do you invest in you?
Probably not often enough. There are usually many other business decisions on the minds of leaders, so thoughts of a personal investment rarely bubble to the top. It becomes obvious that such commitments are necessary if you want to make a real difference in the game you play. So, you need to invest in you. Find a mentor, a coach or a confidant who will help you grow, it will be the most valuable investment decision you make.
Rod Buchecker
Rod Buchecker is an expert in helping people find what they need to focus on in order to be successful.