Brand yourself to increase your Employability The One Word That Can Propel Your Career Do your Colleagues, Peers or seniors have a choice word that describes you? If not, here's why you should want them to… Most of the times it is the one word that can make all the difference What is Your Most Important Word? You get to choose how people view you. As long as your actions constantly and consistently match your positioning, as long as you are intentional in thought and action, you can determine the immediate and direct connection people make when they see, hear, or think about you. What one word best describes you? More importantly What one word do you want to describe you? Here are a few possibilities – these are all wonderful qualities:

1. Sincere 2. Relentless 3. Insightful 4. Diligent 5. Vivacious 6. Persistent 7. Strong 8. Decisive 9. Meticulous 10.Relatable 11.Determined

So, what could possibly be the one word that can transform your career? It's different for everyone. But, if you can find yours, it can have a profound impact on your person brand, and hence your career. In the dictionary, “Great” means remarkable in degree or effectiveness. “Great” is a wonderful word, especially when used to describe someone… but like “awesome” and “outstanding,” “great” is used so often to describe people that it has lost much of its meaning. When just about everyone is great… no one is great. Great is no longer impactful or memorable. When described as “Great”, however remarkable in degree or effectiveness you may be, it seems like just one of many. GREAT doesn't standout anymore. Think of being referred to as “Relentless”. The word relentless instantly forces to think of someone who is so determined, so persevering, so persistent and tenacious that nothing, absolutely nothing, can stand in his way.

A “Great” executive can be easy to forget. A “Relentless” executive will be remembered for a long, and not easy to forget. Authentic Positioning Matters – Especially for Individuals Positioning is all about trying to own a single word or phrase in the mind. For Mercedes it’s “luxury.” For Volvo it's “safety”. The goal of positioning is to create an immediate and direct connection in the minds of people that’s what branding is all about. Individuals need to think about their positioning, too. What is your recall value? So imagine you ask a colleague or a boss or a customer for to pick one word that describes you and they aren’t allowed to use words like awesome, fantastic, great, terrific, etc. They have to pick a specific, non-generic word. What word would they choose? The word they choose – for better or worse and, where you’re concerned, intentional or unintentional – is your positioning in the minds of the people you work with. That’s how they see you. That’s how they think of you. That is how they remember you. A short, powerful exercise… Make a list of the adjectives you want people to repeat after They meet you, Talk to you, See or read about you... What do you want other people to think of when they think of you? Make your list. Then bring it down to the one word you want to encapsulate as your personal brand. IMPORTANT You have to do it as If you don’t, other people will definitely decide it for you. Decide how you want to be defined, and increase your EMPLOYABILITY

CA Vinod.Kr Sharma Director – Jagran Institute of Management 5-01-2015