WhyMe? is simple and straightforward, designed to help you achieve the clarity you need. It consists of four key elements – Vision, Values, Personality and Supporting Factors. By the end of the programme you will have your own personal brand definition, crystallising what makes you unique. This is your strategy for success – all you have to do then is put it into action, making sure that everything you do or, say, is consistent with your strategy.
The four key WhyMe? elements:
- Your Vision – what are your goals? What do you want to achieve?
Your Vision sets out your goals and ambitions (over and above money). This is aspirational, outlining what you want to achieve in your work life. In terms of your career, where do you see yourself in the future? What will success look like for you? - Your Values – what behavioural traits are the most important to you?
How do you think you should behave? What do you strive for? Your selected Values will set the tone for your personal brand. They set out what the principles or standards of behaviour you try to adhere to and think are important in life. They are the DNA by which you live. - Your Personality – what are your main personality traits?
Your Personality will be linked to your chosen Values. Your Personality will be made up of your most significant and positive traits. There are no right and wrongs in personality, you are what you are. So, there is no point in pretending you are the life and soul of the party if you are quiet and reserved. You just need to find the right way of expressing your Personality so that it comes across as positive. - Supporting Factors – why can you say this about yourself?
These catalogue your most important talents, skills and achievements, identifying the factors that substantiate or prove your personal brand definition. They are important because they make sure that what you say about yourself can be seen to be true. Whilst a personal brand inevitably puts a positive gloss on who you are and what you are about, it must be rooted in truth otherwise you will simply come unstuck.
Summing it all up
Once you have completed WhyMe?, you should try to distil the sentiment into a short sentence, so that if anyone ever asks you to say in a few words what makes you different you are ready. Given the speed with which many potential employees make judgements about applicants whether through social media, CVs, or interview it is critical that you are very clear about what really makes you tick.