The Do’s and Don’ts of Building Your Brand at Workplace

When most people think of the term brand, they view it in the context of a packet of chips, or a laundry detergent.

However, there’s more to branding than just the local household goods you see on a daily basis.

In fact, hundreds of advertising agencies earn a fortune building the brands of both small and big businesses to improve their marketing strategies.

everydayplus/Shutterstock
Branding is the most powerful tool that advertisers use to sell their products and services

The Powerful Psychological Effect of Branding

One of the main agendas of these advertising agencies is to create awareness, a personality, and an aura around a certain service or product.

Look at it this way. If you’re seen in a certain BRAND of a car (say a Mercedes or a BMW), the notion in people’s heads is that you are wealthy, sophisticated, and generally just a person who has got things going well for them.

Indeed, luxury brands such as Gucci and Prada have used this power to dictate high prices for their products without individuals batting an eye.

Branding with a Purpose

Another great example is how people look at Amazon. Here is this monopolistic, faceless company that has won the hearts and souls of millions of Americans thanks to how effective it is at delivering goods and services to your doorstep.

So whether you own a small business or are part of a corporation, building your brand is what will make you stand out, and get you noticed for that job promotion.

In fact, failing to do so will leave you rendered as just another cog in the machine. To further your career, you need to be that silver lining your company desperately needs.

Natasa Adzic/Shutterstock
Building a brand for yourself in the business world is like building an identity and showing who you are

Things to Avoid When Building Your Personal Brand

Keeping this in mind, here are some things to avoid when improving your personal brand.

Don’t be a suckup- You wouldn’t want to be seen as that guy or girl that’s always kissing up to corporate to gain their attention. It just leaves an overall bad and cringeworthy rep for you.

Don’t be the go-to guy for all info– While you might be the fun person at the office who knows all the juiciest gossip, precious hours of your free time shouldn’t be wasted by individuals crammed on your desk waiting for you to share the latest 411. This is certainly detrimental for your career and could land you in hot soup in the long run.

Don’t waste your Monday mornings discussing weekend adventures– This might sound a bit harsh, but there’s a psychological implication to this. You see, when you get to the office on a Monday eager to discuss last night’s football game, you automatically put your mind in a carefree zone about your career.

The worst thing is that since it’s a Monday, this mentality will drag on the whole week, weakening your mindset towards furthering your career.

Don’t be the cool kid- Yeah, so your buddies at the office might think that you’re cool when you sneak out for a smoke or convince them to ditch work early for a couple of beers down the road. However, the long-term implication is that you’re not showcasing a marketable brand for your work ethic in the long run.

Don’t be the ‘I’m so busy guy’– In fact, this is one of the most awkward and cringe-worthy statements to every say. First of all, people might think that you’re not smart enough to complete your work on time. Secondly, you just look like a pompous person who just wants to show how busy they are instead of getting any work done!
Don’t be the meme guy at the office– Anything from showing your colleagues inappropriate videos, political memes, and dirty jokes is a no-go zone. Not only does it show you have a juvenile attitude, but it’s also irritating and irreverent.

Tattoboo/Shutterstock
Avoid trying to please others, as it will only come across as needy and desperate to the rest

How to Successfully Build Your Brand

The flip side of the coin is that even if you’ve been doing this for a while now, you can easily change your circumstances and how you are viewed as a brand. Here are some of the ways to get started.

Put in the time and effort to improve and master your skills– Work hard and smart so that individuals at the office learn to respect and trust you.

Be early at the office­– Avoid shady stuff like disappearing for two hours during lunch instead of one. Be the first one at the office and the last one out.

Be open-minded- Make yourself available to those who truly need your help at the office

Be an active listener- Everyone loves a listener. As a rule of thumb, speak less and listen more.

Be humble- Let the work that you do speak volumes about who you are and avoid tooting your own horn after successfully doing something.

Conclusively, your aim would to work so hard and do such a great job that you automatically become indispensable to the company.