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I know, I know.
The word “brand” itself gets a bad rap — and if you don’t believe in branding, please feel free to move on.
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But if you, like me, have discovered the power of being aware of how you stand out at your workplace (essentially what your reputation, aka “street cred,” is) and intentionally want to ensure that you show up consistently, then this post is for you.
I don’t think any of these tips are groundbreaking — but if executed consistently, they can help you maintain your brand with less brain drain and stress.
Keep A Done List
Many of us have a to-do list. But do you have a done list? A running list of the bigger projects and work you’ve done over the year? Mine just happens to be chunked out in fiscal quarters because that’s how our business is run. The why? It’s helpful to be able to see at a glance what you’ve been working on — to step back from the “trees” to see the “forest.” Keeping the running list in real time helps because it’s easier to scramble and grab your done list when you get an impromptu one-to-one meeting with your manager than to rely on memory when asked, “what are you working on?” Even if the meeting isn’t impromptu, it’s still easier to grab your list instead of trying to prepare for your one to one from memory. It’s also helpful at performance review time because chances are you may not remember what you did yesterday, much less over the year.
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Having a done list also helps you evaluate whether you are getting the kind of work you want and whether it’s impactful to the company (and if the answer is no, gives you a basis to ask for the kind of work you want). In addition to work, you may want to jot down any speaking opportunities you’ve had, any publications or awards you’ve received, and any company-enriching committees you’ve been spending time on (like pro bono, mentoring, or the diversity and inclusion committee).
Keep A Recent Headshot
My recommendation is to always have a recent professional headshot ready just in case you need it for a bio, a publication, an award, or a speaking opportunity. It’s also nice to have for your LinkedIn profile. How recent is up to you, but I try to have one that is less than five years old. Another nice to have is an environmental photo (which is more of a partial or full-length professional shot). Obviously, this is not necessary and low on the priority list, but it can really help fortify your external executive presence. And it’s always better to have one on hand then to have to scramble and find someone when you need a photo and realize the last one you had was when you were a first-year associate at that first firm. By the way, it is worth investing in having a professional photographer instead of relying on a selfie or one from your iPhone taken by a friend.
Keep An Archive Of Your Bio
As you gain speaking opportunities and win awards, you will often be asked for a bio of 250 to 500 words. I personally think it’s a pain to write one. So here’s the tip: each time you create one, save it in a file (I use One Note). And each time you are asked, you can work from what you have already created and just tweak it as necessary for the occasion — instead of re-creating the wheel every time.
Meyling “Mey” Ly Ortiz is in-house at Toyota Motor North America. Her passions include mentoring, championing belonging, and a personal blog: TheMeybe.com. At home, you can find her doing her best to be a “fun” mom to a toddler and preschooler and chasing her best self on her Peloton. You can follow her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meybe/). And you knew this was coming: her opinions are hers alone.