The Personal Branding Revolution
November 16, 2007 9:06 AM
As the year draws to a close, I suddenly find myself having more and more in-depth conversations with a wide-ranging and diverse group of people, about what they want to do in 2008.
Usually this starts with a conversation about their job, their CV, their career prospects and the whole process of recruitment. However, within a very short space of time, we end up talking about what it is that they actually do. No, not their job title, their job description, or the role they are currently occupying; but a detailed conversation of precisely what it is that they actually do. Now what's intriguing about this, is that most of them cannot describe what they do - they've never had to do it before.
The CV/Resume or the recruiter does it for them, and that's just it. We have all been relying on someone else or something else to define our working lives; what jobs we do and how our employers, colleagues and the World at large, sees us. So, the very concept of sitting down and addressing it ourselves is a complete anathema to most of us. Most of what we do is pretty straightforward and uncomplicated, but it's truly astonishing how complex we can choose to make it. We totally abandon the concept of KISS (keep it simple stupid, for those of you who have grown up in the digital age), choosing instead to describe what we do in the most complicated and confusing manner. It's almost as if we are programmed to believe that the more complex it sounds, the higher our value and the more we are worth. It's all nonsense, of course, because it only serves to confuse those around us, who might be attempting to find us a new job or a better position.
How often does a recruiter come up with the same job in a different organisation and how many times has your Boss given you a task that you are wholly unsuited to? Too many times to make it coincidental, I suspect. The responsibility really lies within all of us to be clear about what we do, and then articulate that with clarity, brevity and certainty. It's not easy of course, and the chances are that you've never done it before; however, once done, you'll find it so much easier to focus and concentrate on what's right for you as opposed to what's right for someone else.
Comments
I find this very true, thank you for writing about it so well. Sometimes I do try to make things sound more then they are and often end up feeling like a big liar, or like I didn't express myself at all, but lately I've tried the 'KISS' technique and it works, at least for me and my peace of mind!
Karem - November 19, 2007 8:58 PM
Glad to hear it Karem. Thank you for giving it a go. Now, use your experience to influence others around you. Good news should be spread around.
Charlie - November 20, 2007 11:05 AM
Appreciate the ideas mentioned for employer and employees. This if implemented will surely go a long way in getting success and good returns in their career and business as well. Wish you great success always.
Abubakar P.H - December 23, 2007 1:17 PM