Could this be said of YOU?

I encouraged those of you who wanted to learn how you were viewed to set the “Personal Brand” test.
The reaction was heartening and many thought this a great Idea and would "set the test"

I also promised to post an outstanding example achieved on behalf of one Manager who must have been thrilled by the outcome.

Many have asked me to post the example sooner rather than later..

Is this how we would be seen?

The truth is….you will never know until you ask and if you are not confident about the outcome you cannot claim confidence.

Everyone needs a Member of Staff and a Manager that can agree this summary.

Well done to them.

Introduction:

The purpose of this summary is to Identify and develop the strengths of Brand associated with (Name) – Branch Manager, referred to as “The Brand”.

It is based on thirteen years of working relationship and strengths and weaknesses observed.

My view of a Brand:

Brand is a reflection of a clear Identity, vision and consistency. It can be distinguished easily from other Brands. It is a trademark.

It separates one from another and is derived from who you are, who you want to be and who people perceive you to be?

1.     What does the Brand stand for?

Honesty, integrity, consistency, reliability and stability.

A strong Brand cannot be created overnight and its value is demonstrated in difficult times and over time. This Brand has established itself as effective, resilient and produces high levels of loyalty.

2.     How is the Brand different?

It remains highly visible and leads where others follow. It produces added value and appeals to those who seek quality and best practice.

It remains fresh and up to date and delivers what it promises.

It engages and welcomes the views of others and in this way remains “inclusive” and productive.

It strives to be the best by using a balanced approach.

The Brand is a good Ambassador and uses good listening skills.

Using assessment skills it reduces risk and builds assurance.

3.     Selling points of the Brand and benefits of working closely with it?

There is a professional image and approach that thinks short, medium and long term to reinforce the future.

An approach of considering new ideas ensures constant progress.

It is proactive and co-operative in style and endeavours to act as a key influence for progress.

It simplifies tasks to produce effective outcomes.

It takes a specialist approach.

Being closely associated with the Brand leads to benefits of strong personal development, vital direction, strong support, opportunity and job satisfaction.

4.     How does the Brand add value?

Constant Investment in the needs of others results in benefits for everyone.

It shares its own experience with others.

It remains positive and motivational.

It looks to build a strong foundation for the future.

It improves people’s lives.

5.     Why buy this Brand?

When it makes a promise – It keeps a promise.

It has verifiable credentials, is transparent and accessible.

It comes with a guarantee of commitment and is known and trusted.

6.     Why be loyal to this Brand?

It’s approachable, even handed, firm but fair and is respected for maintaining a “hands on” approach, which is unselfish, dependable and realistic.

7.     What “strap line” reflects this Brand?

Recognising that the Brand is forward thinking, aware of the need for continuous improvement and responsive in support of the needs of others an appropriate “Strap Line” is: “Trust you can build on”

8.     What Brand has been created and how is it perceived?

A trusted Brand already exists. In order to maintain its existing high reputation it needs to maintain focus on primary and specific areas of Brand strengths whilst ensuring areas of available Improvement are fully engaged. Strong presentation of the Brand should continue and Input from others should remain an Influence of Brand development.

Whilst perception is Instinctive the Brand needs to continue to be seen as “real”.

Effective communication will be needed to enhance and protect the true value of the Brand.

Summary Conclusion:

The Brand has matured and remained firmly fixed on good principle. Its philosophy is founded on developed formulas that are proven to work best. It has established itself as a leader and recognises no room for complacency.

Other Brands may be available but by comparison will prove to be “imitations” without equal substance.

Whilst Branding reveals true value, only when its value is true can it be said to have achieved a true standing.

I feel privileged to be associated with this Brand on the basis that it welcomes and values an honest opinion when it is persuasive, sincere and constructive.

In part I feel the Brands success has been developed by constantly reassessing these questions:

—         Where are we now?

—         Where do we want to get to?

—         How are we going to get there?

—         Who is going to do what and when?

—         How can we control, measure and develop the process?

Produced by:

June 2012

What kind of “Brand” are you seen as?

Ever thought of yourself or a colleague as a Brand?

I was privileged to be engaged in an Interesting exercise recently.

As part of a Corporate review, Managers were asked to nominate a number of Staff who worked with them to write them up as a “Brand”.

They were to be given a fixed set of questions to be answered about the Manager that would reflect their value (or otherwise).

On the surface it sounds easy but most struggled with developing the concept.

The outcome of one was intriguing, outstanding, reassuring and heartening.

Quality of people can often be forgotten. You can also wrongly assume your real reputation.

I will post one outstanding outcome in due course, recognising that the person it was based on is clearly the kind of Manager every Company needs and wants. (And no....you will not get to know who they are to poach them!)

In the meantime try it yourself if you are brave enough.

If you feel hesitant.....you are not confident of your value.

The positive learning will not be wasted.

You get a head start by choosing who you want to do it.

Here are the questions but remember, they are describing you:

1.    What does the Brand stand for?

2.    How is the Brand different?

3.    Selling points of the Brand and benefits of working closely with it?

4.    How does the Brand add value?

5.    Why buy this Brand?

6.    Why be loyal to this Brand?

7.    What “strap line” reflects this Brand?

8.    What Brand has been created and how is it perceived?

The exercise will stretch your Staff and you will likely be amused but more aware through the outcome.

Avoid risks of “Titanic” proportions!

I am sure you have noticed that some Films are as good the tenth time you see them, as the first.

In recent times “Titanic” has entered that category for many.

It certainly does it for me and before anyone reminds me, yes I am a lover of Celine Dion music!

The layers to the story are many and varied.

They show human failure and tragedy.

Everyone talks about the flawed design that led to the perception that she was unsinkable.

In fact, when she was found at the bottom of the sea, it was deemed she already suffered from metal embrittlement as a flaw. On any moving vehicle this is, in itself, a recipe for tragedy.

Aerospace are particularly aware of the need to check this danger.

If the owners of “Titanic” had said sinking was improbable rather than impossible, we might now see a reason for such belief.

Whatever many lessons can be drawn, one above all reminds me of the fine line that determines outcomes.

Everyone talks about the limited number of lifeboats that made it impossible to protect everyone equally. New laws of regulation rightly resulted later.

In the crisis that ensued though, the great loss of life resulted because no other vessel was close enough to change the outcome.

A set of events transpired to come together that made survival impossible for many. The risk factor increased a hundredfold the moment it was known that a plan B was not available.

Everyone makes mistakes but they should never be terminal, either to us or others.

It’s a lesson that, accept it or not, we are reliant on others.

None of us can exist in isolation.

Our relationships, Family and Business, should be strong commitments.

If and when crisis arrives, the greater number can make the difference to avoid outcomes or disasters of “Titanic” proportions.

Who would let their child travel the world for many months without a backup plan that could respond to emergency?

It’s the same in business. It sounds grim but you need a disaster plan.

If you manufacture products and your storage burns down, where will stock come from to cover the period you can be up and running again?

If all your Corporate data is lost at the same time, where have you stored it externally to be able to retrieve it?

It sounds like an exercise of negative thinking but risk awareness provides risk avoidance.

It’s best not to say it’s impossible.(song by Nat King Cole) Titanic proved that!

Wanderers are a coming.....

It was hardly the best of news to see Bolton Wanderers relegated to the Championship.

The optimist looks for a Silver lining though.

For me it is that Bolton will be wandering to Barnsley, Leeds, Sheffield and Huddersfield next season.

They will find it a tough league and Yorkshire grit will be a big test for them.

The games will be evenly balanced and teams visiting the Reebok will find it daunting too.

As I am no better at forecasting than the weather man, I will simply predict some clouds with spells of sunshine.

If they beat all Yorkshire teams we can always stop buying Warburton’s Bread.

In truth, if they are to get back to the Premiership, they will certainly have to spend some dough!

Heres hoping they don’t suffer from nosebleeds as they come up the hill they call the Pennines!

If not, Leeds are bound to oblige!

Barnsley and Huddersfield are more sedate and Owls are not likely to cause much harm.

It will liven the league up though and I will be shouting come on Barnsley Wanderers at Oakwell.

Maybe Liverpool will join us next time round.

They always bring humour at least and we like a laugh in Yorkshire.

Out of the mouths of young ones.....

I have never made any secret of the fact that I am blessed with three lovely Grandchildren. Two boys and a girl, so you will know who is in charge!

They like to find and send me amusing or sweet sayings.

You can always tell whether the boys sent it or whether it came from Emma.

Guess which one was the boys!

This will not be the hardest task you face today but it proves the sentiment of Men and Women are irretrievably different!

If nothing else they made me smile and reminded me that childhood is brief. 

The price of Love?

To prove his love:

He climbed the highest mountain for her.....

Swam the deepest sea.....

Crossed the widest desert.....

Result:

She left him because he was never at home!

Time is.....

Too slow for those who wait.....

Too swift for those who fear.....

Too long for those who grieve.....

Too short for those who rejoice, but

For those who Love...Time is eternal.

If a kiss was a raindrop, I would send you a shower.....

If a hug was a second I would send you an hour.....

If smiles were water I would send you the sea.....

If friendship was a person I would send you me.

If I had to choose whether to breathe or to Love you – I

would use my last breath to tell you I Love you.

What kind of realist are you?

Try to think of someone who describes themselves as “a realist”.

A dictionary definition of a realist is “Someone who sees things as they really are”.

As a realist you get to offer opinions widely because you have the gift of seeing the future or likely outcomes of things.

You get to couch your opinion in serious, caring, concerned and measured tones.

There’s not much Immediate risk because a realist knows the evidence of being right or wrong is not yet in.

Is there a danger though that with growing confidence a realist starts to become self righteous and less consoling or proactive?

You may be dealing with a problem that needs your undivided attention today and a realist takes you two months forward to all the possible snags the problem may bring.

Actually, the reality is that if you don’t deal with the problem today, those outcomes two months from now are, on this occasion, a pointless consideration!

A realist can, at times, add anxieties where they do not exist.

Some can even take on the role of a Prophet of Doom.

A realist can, too often, know the problem but never see the solution.

Often, their best guide is to accept disappointment, loss or defeat.

A true realist accepts there is a challenge but finds options to mediate best outcomes.

They may not be ideal outcomes but in the circumstances they are reasonable expectations.

A true realist deals with possibilities and a false realist expects things to get worse.

Even worse, a false realist sits back and watches them getting worse!

We all need a realist in our lives but choosing the wrong kind can be fatal.

Optimism achieves things in spite of the challenge – Fatalism acts as a victim before any conclusions are known.

Trust me – I’m a realist!