Sunday, September 27, 2009

10 Ways To Blow Your Own Horn

No, this is not a plea for you to pick up a musical instrument! Blowing your horn is a figure of speech that calls for expressing yourself in public through your performance and track record. Today, the buzzword is personal branding; how do you position yourself as a brand of distinction? What do you stand up for? How do others perceive you? Either you get noticed or, or you will fall on the wayside of obscurity.

1) Achieve your agreed upon Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Results Areas (KRAs), and exceed them

2) Be likeable, and like others

3) Strive for the three-pronged approach: what you know, who you know, and who knows you

4) Get involved in volunteer work and lead in key initiatives (national sports association, Singapore Youth Olympic Games, charity organizations, hospice care)

5) Get onto committees where your skills and competencies may add value to the team

6) Be known within other non-professional circles such as your community, hobbyist groups, and social groups

7) Earn recognition and distinction for an area of expertise (start a triathlon club, organise Toastmasters sessions, coach your colleagues to their first marathon, lead in a weekend beach clean-up)

8) Be respectful to others, recognize them for their abilities, and reassure them when they are doubtful

9) Use social media tools to enhance your presence, and actively build your networks (blogs, websites, Twitter, Facebook, mazon.com reviews)

10) Be involved in corporate events (writing minutes of meeting, be on the editorial board, organizing the company’s Family Day/Dinner & Dance, or be a office-bearer in your company’s sports and recreation club)

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