Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Making a Statement

It is time for step four in creating your leadership brand. Time to pull together the previous steps into one nicely stated leadership brand statement. If you are just joining my blog I suggest you go back a few days and read the other articles on creating a leadership brand.

I found a great article on the Harvard Business Review and I have been taking the time unpacking the article and adding my own insight into the steps necessary for creating a leadership brand.

In step two you decided how you wanted to be remembered. In step three you created some branding phrases that identified your brand. Step four is about creating that statement. That statement that sets you apart and shows other who you are and what you want to accomplish. The article says that it is time to take your phrases and combine them with what you want to accomplish over the next year.

How does this relate to company, customers and community? What you need to do is create a brand statement that speaks to the company, takes care of the customers and shows support for the community. You could even create three brand statements one aimed at the company one at the customers and a third at the community. Companies that have strong brands have statements that reach the customer, a separate one that is geared internally toward the company and the community.

The article then addresses the need to ask some questions. You want to make sure your statement is accurate and identifies you as who you are and what you want to accomplish.

Is it who you really are?

Don't make some pie in the sky statement that sounds good but is one that you could never live by. It is like an elevator speech and it is your turn to turn heads but be true to yourself.

Does it give value to the company, customers and community?

Make a statement!  Start building your brand.

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