{"id":5948,"date":"2017-06-21T07:29:24","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T07:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/?p=5948"},"modified":"2025-09-02T13:38:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T11:38:20","slug":"build-better-professional-brand-reputation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/build-better-professional-brand-reputation\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Build A Better Professional Brand And Reputation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>How you see yourself is important. Self-confidence and self-belief are key elements of forming a strong professional brand.<\/p>\n<p>But the way your colleagues and employers see you could be <b>different to how you see yourself<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>Due to a psychological phenomenon known as the fundamental attribution error, or confirmation bias, it\u2019s difficult to influence other people\u2019s opinions of you.<sup>1<\/sup>; This bias causes people to associate something you did with who you are as a person, instead of considering it in relation to the situation you were in when you did it.<\/p>\n<p>Learn how to use a rebranding strategy to overcome confirmation bias and negative reputations and craft yourself a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/getsmarter-personal-brand-guide\/\"><b>new professional brand<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b> Reshape how your colleagues, bosses and potential future employers see you to help yourself get ahead in your career.<\/p>\n<h5><b>Do you need a new professional brand?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>To figure out if you need to create a new professional brand, ask yourself this simple question: Is how I\u2019m currently perceived by others aligned with how I want to be perceived?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6008 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand01.png\" alt=\"professional brand question\" width=\"900\" height=\"194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand01.png 900w, https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand01-300x65.png 300w, https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand01-768x166.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If the answer is anything other than a resounding yes, it\u2019s <b>time to reinvent your professional image<\/b>. Refresh your personal identity to realign how people see you with how you want to be seen.<\/p>\n<h5><b>How do you create a new professional image?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p>When you plan your professional brand overhaul, there are a number of steps you can take to ensure you get it done in the least painful way, and with the best outcomes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6009 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand02.png\" alt=\"professional brand traits\" width=\"900\" height=\"194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand02.png 900w, https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand02-300x65.png 300w, https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand02-768x166.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Identify the key professional traits you want to embody.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>You need to work hard to convince people to reconsider what they think about you. Beat the effect of confirmation bias on your perceived image by putting in extra effort to overcome it.<\/p>\n<p>Do your coworkers think you struggle with punctuality? Then arriving at 8:01 isn\u2019t going to cut it. To beat the negative expectations people have of you and clear any bad reputation you may have, you need to arrive at 7:45 every morning &#8211; until their opinion of you changes.<\/p>\n<p>Use this three-step framework to make the changes you want people to see in you:<\/p>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6006 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand04.png\" alt=\"professional brand checklist\" width=\"900\" height=\"209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand04.png 900w, https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand04-300x70.png 300w, https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand04-768x178.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><br \/>\nGet people\u2019s attention.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Appearance has been shown to be more important than reality,<sup>2<\/sup> so you need to show off your new behaviour. There\u2019s no point making changes to your behaviour if you don\u2019t take every opportunity to showcase your new brand identity.<\/p>\n<p>Look for opportunities to work with the people whose minds you want to change, and focus on presenting the professional brand image you are trying to achieve.<\/p>\n<p><b>Get busy networking.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Networking is a powerful workplace tool &#8211; 85% of all roles are filled through networking.<sup>3<\/sup> Build a strong network to gain positive influence in the workplace, and rebrand yourself in the eyes of your colleagues.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/build-strong-business-network\/\">Network with your peers<\/a> by sharing your ideas with them. Because networking is based around the concept of sharing knowledge and opinions, it allows you to show your coworkers and bosses that you\u2019re a team player looking to add value.<\/p>\n<p><b>Ask for mentorship.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Feel like someone isn\u2019t responding favourably to your attempts to rebrand yourself? Consider asking them for help or advice.<\/p>\n<p>As Dorie Clark, CEO of Clark Strategic Communications and author of <i>Reinventing You <\/i>and <i>Stand Out<\/i>, suggests you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-someone-to-be-your-mentor\/\">ask that person for mentorship<\/a>. \u201cThey usually feel flattered,\u201d says Clark, \u201cand it changes the dynamic because you\u2019re making yourself vulnerable to them.\u201d<sup>4<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><b>Emphasise your rebrand.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Highlight the new you in order to overcome the opinions people have of the old you. Over exaggerate your new professional brand so your colleagues and superiors can see the changes you\u2019re making. Once you\u2019ve changed people\u2019s perceptions of you, you can tone down to a stable happy medium.<\/p>\n<p><b>Have patience.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>You aren\u2019t going to cultivate a new professional identity overnight. Clark believes, \u201cThe stronger the impression, the longer it\u2019s going to take to change.\u201d<sup>5<\/sup> But don\u2019t let that discourage you &#8211; the sooner you begin, the sooner you will see a difference in how others see you.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6007 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand03.png\" alt=\"professional brand impression\" width=\"900\" height=\"264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand03.png 900w, https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand03-300x88.png 300w, https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/gfx-ref-articles-brand03-768x225.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Want to increase the scope of your professional brand?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Browse more than 60 short courses from the world\u2019s leading universities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button large postcta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarter.com\/products\">TELL ME MORE<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><sup>1 <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/blog\/real-men-dont-write-blogs\/201406\/why-we-dont-give-each-other-break\">Psychology Today<\/a><\/span><\/sup><br \/>\n<sup>2 <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.spsp.org\/news-center\/press-releases\/even-fact-will-not-change-first-impressions\">SPSP<\/a><\/span><\/sup><br \/>\n<sup>3 <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/new-survey-reveals-85-all-jobs-filled-via-networking-lou-adler\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/span><\/sup><br \/>\n<sup>4 <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2015\/09\/you-really-can-change-your-reputation-at-work\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HBR<\/span><\/a><\/sup><br \/>\n<sup>5\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/books.google.co.za\/books?id=2W6NDgAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT67&amp;lpg=PT67&amp;dq=%22The+stronger+the+impression,+the+longer+it%E2%80%99s+going+to+take+to+change.%22&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=x9iPb9swkn&amp;sig=NywFZUOBNExUtGUZ_t13bErE0iQ&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiOo8W5t77UAhWIBcAKHYIWDpwQ6AEILjAB#v=onepage&amp;q=%22The%20stronger%20the%20impression%2C%20the%20longer%20it%E2%80%99s%20going%20to%20take%20to%20change.%22&amp;f=false\">HBR<\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>And use them to ensure your career success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":40872,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[127],"article-format":[],"class_list":["post-5948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-advice","tag-career-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How To Build A Better Professional Brand And Reputation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How you are seen at work may be holding you back from achieving career success. 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