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The Exceptional Leader

AuthorHouse

Contents

Special Acknowledgment................................................viiIntroduction..........................................................ixPart 1: Personal Branding.............................................110 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand..................................2Benefits of Creating a Strong Personal Brand..........................8Creating Your Personal Brand Statement................................9Testing Your Brand Statement..........................................12Staying on Brand......................................................15Part 2: What Is the True Meaning of Leadership?.......................19The 5 Core Principles of Leadership...................................19Part 3: Becoming an Exceptional Leader................................31The 6 Characteristics of an Exceptional Leader........................31Part 4: Pay It Forward................................................39The Five Ways to Help Others Become Great Leaders.....................39

Chapter One

At the risk of being cliché, "There is only one you." However, truly understanding and owning this fact is worth repeating the cliché. Knowing who you are, what you stand for, what motivates you, and what makes you special is the foundation of personal branding. We all have the power to be the next Oprah Winfrey if we choose to be.

Personal branding involves you taking the initiative to define yourself instead of allowing others to define you. Whether you are actively shaping your brand or not taking any steps whatsoever toward cultivating your personal or professional image, everyone has a brand that is either positive, negative, or somewhere in the middle. Currently, Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods are examples of personal brands on either end of the spectrum. From her talk show, which reaches millions, to her generous charity work to her financial supports of films with an uplifting message, Oprah has one of the strongest brands on our planet—a brand so strong that a single recommendation during her book club segment can turn an author into an instant best seller.

Golfer Tiger Woods had a brand just as powerful. However, unlike Oprah, Tiger failed to keep his brand consistent, which is essential for maintaining a strong brand. Overnight, Tiger's image went from that of a hard-working, driven, and highly respected family man who personified excellence to the butt of jokes due to numerous extra-marital affairs. As the dust continues to settle, Tiger has lost millions of dollars in endorsements from corporations who traded on his previous brand of goodness. Coupled with financial losses, he continues to suffer defeats in the court of public opinion. Again, the key to strong branding is consistency. If Tiger had had the womanizing "bad- boy" image of former professional basketball player Dennis Rodman or Gene Simmons of the rock group Kiss, there would have been little to no public uproar regarding Tiger's recent unsavory behavior. Granted, if this had been Tiger's original image, companies such as Gatorade, Accenture, and Tag Heuer would have never solicited his services as an endorser.

The key to a pronounced brand is self-awareness. Take a critical look at yourself and make an honest assessment of the image you project and its impact on others.

10 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand

1. Be authentic.

2. Have integrity.

3. Live and work in your passion. 4. Respect others and their time.

5. Always exceed expectations.

6. Keep your promises.

7. Build a diverse network.

8. Get involved, volunteer, and do special projects.

9. Take on a leadership role and be visible.

10. Know what you want to be famous for.

Be authentic

No one is as good at being you as you. Genuineness can be refreshing in the professional arena. Showcasing the "real" you allows you to exude calmness (as there is no extra effort required on your part) and in turn puts everyone around you more at ease. I have found that being authentic (while being respectful and tolerant) can be quite contagious. If you are not fond of the outdoors, it is not wise to volunteer to head a company whitewater rafting outing. Likewise, if you are in the midst of colleagues who tell demeaning jokes that you find offensive, laughing or continuing to remain in their presence will eat away at the core of who you proclaim to be. While compromise is essential to success, understand your areas of strength and weakness while standing firm on your basic values.

Have integrity

Integrity is fundamental to sustaining a strong personal brand. Once your integrity is breached, so is the trust and respect others had for you. The best opportunity one has to display integrity is often at a time when integrity can be easily compromised.

Live and work in your passion

Are you working for a purpose or a paycheck? You must discover your passion. Not society's passion, not a family member's passion, but your passion. Once you truly discover it, you owe it to yourself to pursue this passion with extreme tenacity. Each day you work at a job that does not bring you joy, you not only cheat yourself out of true happiness and the pursuit of excellence, but you cheat your world out of your unique gifts. Granted, in these difficult economic times, mired with layoffs and cutbacks on educational funding, we often feel we are forced to work at jobs that do not bring any personal fulfillment but simply help make ends meet. This is a sad reality. However, even though you may find yourself in a situation that does not fit your passion, never lose sight of it. Allot some time each day to the pursuit of your desired goal—whether this entails researching your desired field or occupation online, taking preparatory classes, volunteering, applying for internships, or attending seminars. This consistent pursuit of your passion serves as a consistent internal reminder that your current position is a temporary one, and this continued effort and refusal to settle increases the chance that you will make a quicker transition into the position you desire.

Respect others and their time

Respect is a key component in creating and maintaining a reputable personal brand. The ability to show others they are valued is a trait every exceptional colleague and leader should possess. Never lose sight of the fact that in order to receive true respect, you must first show it. Once you have earned the respect of others, you will be privileged to enjoy their extreme effort and a much more positive environment.

One of the greatest displays of respect is punctuality. Not simple being on time but being early shows everyone involved that you hold your counterparts in high esteem and that you are serious and fully committed to the task at hand.

Always exceed expectations

I believe in this ideal so much that "Exceeding Your Expectations" was actually my company's slogan when I was president and CEO of Granville & Webb HR Connections, Inc., a human resources consulting firm. Because we now exist in such a highly competitive global marketplace, being average, or even good, just won't do. You must strive to be the best at all times. To do otherwise is to cheat the world of your intrinsic greatness, and more importantly, to...