10 AGCAREERS.COMAGRICULTURE & FOOD CAREER GUIDE QUESTIONS TO HELP SHAPE YOUR BRAND: What passions, motivations, and life wins can you share with others in authentic ways? HOW DO YOU MAKE OTHERS FEEL? You might be confident in who you are or have a lengthy resume of accolades and accomplishments. But what are your efforts worth if you’re not making others feel good in your interactions with them? If you’re unsure how you make others feel, it is worthwhile to survey others to determine how your brand shows up in different spaces. In college, I had a small group of six people who sat on my personal “Board of Directors.” This group consisted of my middle school teacher, a childhood friend, a college professor, one of my residents (I was a Resident Advisor), and two mentors. I would occasionally have touchpoints with them to share how I felt and catch up with them. We would end the conversation by asking, “How did I make you feel during this interaction? Did I allow you to speak, talk over you, and come off as if I knew everything? Or did I sit back and repeat what I heard while making a connection or helping in the smallest way?” Today, with my personal “Board of Directors,” I’ve added two additional people and swapped some people out for fresh perspectives, and there’s nothing wrong with that—I still end interactions with them this way. It gives me a good gauge of my brand. It has become clear that being mindful of others’ feelings is crucial as I engage in more experiences and opportunities, especially when working with people of varying backgrounds. Positive interactions are key. A smile, laugh, hug, or even a reference to similarity or connection with people truly matters—and it’s a part of your brand. QUESTIONS TO HELP SHAPE YOUR BRAND: “How do I show up, support, be a resource, and communicate as my best self with others?” MY CHALLENGE TO YOU: If you still need to get a personal “Board of Directors,” identify who those individuals could be and start pulling them together. They will be an incredible resource to you as you progress throughout life, and they’ll help to keep you in check with your authentic self. BE VISIBLE IN-PERSON AND ONLINE There is no comparison for analyzing how others perceive your personal brand, like being in person with the ability to read the room and pick up on body language. Visibility is crucial to your personal brand and building trust with others. Whether it’s showing up for that 8 a.m. class you may find challenging, choosing to attend a meeting in person at work vs. using Microsoft Teams, or taking advantage of the hybrid work environment and choosing to be seen in the office at least once a week. Make an effort to collaborate and connect with others in person. The more you speak about your passion, expertise, and story in the same room with others, the more you become comfortable and confident in allowing others to experience your brand. Now, you’re probably wondering why I place greater emphasis on in-person interactions rather than relying on social media to speak for your brand. Social media is a great tool to showcase your brand, but only if done correctly and, most importantly, authentically. If you’re posting an accomplishment on LinkedIn, people could perceive it differently—positive, just for show, negative, etc. There is also not wanting to like a post because of the association it might have with your brand. Social media is a tool where people can express how they feel. What’s important to realize is YOU control your brand. I’ll share an example. On one platform, I shared about winning an award and how much it meant to me because of the community I was raised and grew up in. Someone I didn’t know asked why I needed to share my personal experience and why I couldn’t just post that I had won an award. I chose to keep it clear, concise, and positive by thanking the person for sharing their feelings and reaching out to share the importance. Once we met offline and I shared my passion and motivation, the person had a better understanding, and we could understand each other’s passions and motivations in life. Simple. QUESTIONS TO HELP SHAPE YOUR BRAND: How are you tapping into in-person opportunities to showcase your brand? Do you use social media as a tool, and if so, how are you protecting your brand? YOU HOLD THE KEYS TO SUCESS You control and define your brand. It’s your passion, your motivation. Your brand is sharing how you make a person feel, your impact on a community, or what you bring to your career. Crafting a unique, personal, and genuine brand is one of the easiest ways to help others understand who you are, build authentic connections, showcase your values, and demonstrate how others can support you personally and professionally. Go out into the world and build a personal brand that will make others feel good after interacting with you, and allow that to build your confidence. Your personal brand is a continuous learning journey and, when crafted well, can be a guidepost for your personal and professional life. AG Illustration by REDPIXEL on Adobe Stock
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