By Jeff Beals
As I was driving on the freeway last week, I came upon a semi-trailer truck which had a message printed on the back in big red letters: “Our most valuable resource sits 63 feet ahead.” As I passed the truck, I saw a similar message in even bigger letters printed along the side of the trailer: “Our most valuable resource sits here” and then a big red arrow pointing at the driver.
What a nice message! I assume the company, Crete Carrier Corp. decided to place this message on the truck as a way to:
1. recruit drivers;
2. remind drivers how important their work is to the company’s success;
3. make customers feel good knowing that their freight is being transported by high quality drivers;
4. all of the above
Indeed employees are important to the success of companies especially those companies that operate in highly competitive industries.
But employees are also critical to an organization’s success in a way that many people never consider: personal branding.
When most people think about personal branding, they automatically assume you’re talking about career advancement or something a salesperson, insurance agent or real estate broker would do in hopes of closing more deals. Certainly, such images fall under the personal branding umbrella. But organizations benefit from personal branding too. Personal branding by employees helps companies make more money and organizations more successfully meet their missions.
Businesses large and small must realize that people – their employees – are the portals of profit. In other words, customers like to come into a company through a human being. Personal relationships are the most effective way to land big clients. Personal relationships are even effective in the highly commoditized world in which many companies compete. The more a company’s employees are out and about among the public, becoming well known and building relationships with prospective and current customers, the better a company will do.
Too many organizations fear personal branding efforts by their employees. In fact, conventional wisdom says that well-branded employees might be snatched up by competitors. While there is a greater risk of losing well-known employees, savvy companies realize the benefits outweigh the threat of greater turnover. What’s more, my gut tells me that employees who are encouraged to build their personal brands will be happier at work and therefore less likely to leave (even though they would theoretically have more opportunities to leave).
Organizations need not wait for a threat to tap the latent personal branding power that sits unused on their organizational charts. Now is the time to empower employees. Help employees build their brands and turn them loose as deputized ambassadors. Employees must become famous in their own spheres of interest, so they can become the portals of profit.
Jeff Beals is a professional speaker and award-winning author, who helps companies increase their profits and associations achieve their missions through effective sales and personal branding techniques.
Here’s Why Should You Choose Jeff Beals as Your Next Speaker:
“Jeff is sure to deliver an engaging and motivating speech! He cleverly ties together his stories and makes the speech end with a punch. Being the closing speaker is tough, but he stepped-up to the challenge and hit a home-run. Due to the high ratings and overwhelming response to re-watch his speech, we are planning on using his video during our NextGen watch party.” – Megan Dotson, Senior Client Success Consultant & Event Director, GovLoop.com, Washington, DC
“Your workshop was a huge experience for our attendees by giving them the opportunity to improve their work in the critical environment in which we are living today. Your talent as a speaker and your qualities as a person made the difference during your time with us. I would certainly recommend you to anyone who asks.” – Ana Paula Costa, Educational Planner, Febracorp, Sao Paulo, Brazil
“Our corporate partnership team had great takeaways regarding how to network smarter while also understanding the importance of our personal brand to current and prospective partners. Jeff does a great job weaving in real-world examples and how you can apply his teachings to growing your business and
building long-term partnerships.” – Jason Booker, Senior Director of Corporate Sponsorships, The Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball Team
“If you are considering hiring Jeff, I will only say this: do it now. His ability to connect with an audience and explain the importance of telling the story is nothing short of extraordinary. The true litmus of any great speaker is authenticity. And when authenticity is coupled with an incredibly high amount of energy, humor, and engagement – you get Jeff. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs a speaker attendees will talk about for a long time to come.” – Alison Cody, Executive Director, Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry, Atlanta, GA
“I’m in Phoenix and had breakfast earlier this morning with our semi-retired sales representative who is doing some continued work for us down here. He attended your sales meeting last week and told me that in 43 years of selling, you were the best he had heard. Thanks for a great experience.” – Drew Vogel, President & CEO, Diamond Vogel Paints, Orange City, IA
+1-402-917-5730
