Your True Leadership Brand
Let’s have a bit of fun together while identifying your leadership brand.
Often we’re asked to write down words and phrases that describe who we are as leaders. It’s an exercise that can help identify and narrow down the words that best describe your leadership brand.
But some of us think in pictures. And even if we don’t, a picture is worth a 1000 words. So let’s consider how you might picture your leadership brand. Your leadership brand needs to be true. It’s not your hope, your wish, or your leadership wanna be. It’s who you truly are as a human being and as a leader. The idea that those two things are separate is absolute nonsense.
Your Leadership Brand Exercise
Imagine choosing a tattoo that represents who you are as a leader. You’re not only choosing the image, you’re going to have it permanently engraved. It’s going to hurt, so it better be worth the pain.
You’re sitting in the tattoo parlor fully aware that your leadership brand tattoo will soon emblazon your body. The whole world will see who you think you are. Your tattoo cannot be changed and it cannot be removed. Consider your choice carefully.
Are you?
or
or 
or
or
or
or
SOMETHING ELSE?
Search for images.
Choose one that fits who you are as a leader.
When you’re picture appears in the newspaper, the tattoo will be prominently displayed. Choose carefully and truthfully.
Place your image here.
Imagine it tattooed on your body for all the world to see.
- What did you choose?
- Are you being honest with yourself?
- What does the image broadcast to others?
- How do you demonstrate that image in the way you lead?
- Is it a true representation of who you are now? or
- Does it speak to who you want to be? How you wish to be perceived?
What Next?
Now that you’re brandishing your leadership tattoo, how do those who know you as a leader react? Do they signal with:
- An eye roll?
- A head nod of truth?
- A puzzled look?
- A high five?
- A sarcastic glance?
- “Spot on”
- “Are you kidding me?”
If you chose a leadership brand tattoo that begets responses 1,3,5, and/or 7, complete exercise 1, below.
If you chose a leadership brand tattoo to which people respond with a 2,4 and/or 6, complete exercise 2.
Exercise 1:
What do you need to do, to change about how you lead, so people respond with 2,4, and/or 6?
Write your answers here. State them as observable behaviors. Include any change of mind or heart that will lead to these behaviors.
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Go out and practice what you’ve written.
Come back a month from now to re-evaluate your tattoo. Will people respond differently based on what they’ve observed, consistently, during the past month? If yes, keep it up. If not, try again and you may want to engage a coach who can help you achieve your desired brand.
Exercise 2:
What do you do, on a consistent basis, to earn responses 2, 4, and/or 6? Be truthful. “Consistent” is a key word in this question.
Write your answers here.
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Congratulations. Keep it up. You are your leadership brand.