We all have our distinctive personality and style, yet sometimes we hold back who we are for the wrong reasons. Harnessing your You-Ness is all about connecting authentically with yourself and others. When we present our best selves and unite toward a shared purpose, almost anything is possible.
Why refrain from being what you think other people want you to be?
First, you may have it all wrong. Often, what you think others want to hear or see is actually your fears projecting a longstanding belief that may no longer be true. Second, when you continuously shift, pivot, or reframe to people-please, you lose your self-awareness in the process. Ever found yourself not knowing how you feel about a particular issue or situation? And third, without even realizing it, you give your power away by making what someone else thinks and feels more important than how you think and feel.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t adapt and be open to other people’s ways.
When you’re confident about who you are, what you stand for, and who you want to be, you can meet others where they are at with mutual respect. When you believe in yourself, you’re more open, honest, and resilient. As a result, you’re more energized, which in turn shows up positively in your relationships, contributions, and inspires and empowers others to do the same.
Here are five ways to help you Cultivate Your Personal Brand and Harness Your You-Ness:
1. Turn inward.
Embrace who you are and what you stand for by spending time alone. Give yourself time to pause, reflect, and process what you think and feel versus reaching out to speak to others right away. Start with finding your voice and seeking acceptance and validation within yourself.
2. Make connections.
Are you able to stop the voice in your head long enough to listen and bond with others at an emotional level? This means being present in the moment to understand what is significant to the other person and gain their perspective. Think about how you show up — in person, on a call, through video — from a confidence and intention standpoint. Ask yourself:
- Am I confident, or am I listening to my inner critic?
- Is my focus on me or the other person?
- In what ways do I share my thoughts? Am I clear? Do I speak with conviction?
- What’s my intention? Am I honest and credible?
- How’s my energy level and mindset? Am I optimistic or pessimistic?
- Is my ego in check? Am I open to meeting people where they are at?
3. Be relevant.
How you present yourself, what you say and share, needs to have relevancy to make an impact. Each day we have a choice of how we’re going to show up and interact with others. To demonstrate appreciation for another person and what they have to say means meeting them where they are at with a level of compassion and understanding. Here are five mindful practices to balance your communication style. In addition, make sure your message comes across in a clear and concise matter. Check out these communication stories with plenty of tips.
4. Remain open.
Let go of control and see what happens. Trust in others. Say goodbye to negative patterns holding you back. Commit to change, be an impartial observer to feedback, and find balance within to strengthen your resiliency to change.
5. Stay consistent.
Consistency is a big part of reliability and trust. When you are reliable, people know what they can count on and expect. Don’t let circumstances dictate your behavior. Show up and be present. People can trust that you will do what you say you will do. Your values and ethics should not be contingent upon circumstances.
Next steps
To learn more about Cultivating Your Personal Brand, you can review my previous blog articles and sign up to discover more through my customized program on my Learning Boutique page.