"They" are always watching you!

I often tell Merit System leaders that they are the main topic of conversation at dinner tables all across Jefferson County.  If your ears are burning every night between 5:00pm-7:00pm, now you know why. 

Employees complaining about their bosses is nothing new - it has been happening long before you became a leader, and it will continue long after you are retired. 

Here's the good news:  some of you are being talked about POSITIVELY.  (Not all of you, but some of you).  It may go something like this...

"Sweetie, guess what happened at work today?  Tom, my boss, came to my area.  He told me what a good job I was doing, and thanked me for my work on the project."

The above conversation will only take place if you work on your personal brand.  You can control the message that you send out about you!  Or put another way, you are the president of you.  Ask yourself what you think your employees say about you when you are not around.  If it's not good, it's time for you  to start taking back your brand, and you can do that through a variety of techniques.

• Find something you are passionate about, and then let everyone know it through your words and actions.  I am passionate about effective leadership.  Therefore, I try to exemplify it by being open and honest with others, treating everyone with respect, and never minimizing anyone's request

• Be consisent in your personal marketing plan.  If you stand for customer service, be sure you are always opening the door for others.  If you are passionate about recognition, be sure and recognize the good work of your employees in shift meetings.  If you stand for timely performance appraisals, make sure you do them in a timely and consistent manner

• Find new arenas to communicate who you are and what you stand for.  Write a column for your department newsletter.  Offer to lead a team meeting.  Take a couple of hours to take your team to a local non-profit agency to volunteer.

No one controls your personal brand but you! Make sure that the way you walk, talk, speak, act and lead is consistent with who you are and how you want to be thought of...

Good luck enhancing your personal brand this week! - Pete