Author: headstartAdmin

LinkedIn for Boards: 5 Tips to Showcase Your Board Profile

LinkedIn’s audience is aged 40+ on average (with a more active, older user base unlike other social networks). Plus, it caters to the majority of executives looking for their next job or next business opportunity – but for those who are networking and applying for board appointments, phrases and tweaks can be made to showcase your skills and expertise, specifically for your board profile.

Even though some board members may not be as active on LinkedIn, it is helpful to have a presence for those who may refer you. Here are 5 tips to showcase your board profile:

1. Explain and describe your industry expertise in your Summary section. Your industry background is your asset and unlike regular career moves, directors are sought-after for different industry experiences. For example, a software company may seek out a board member with brick and mortar retail experience. Awards from your industry, or based on your expertise, are also a huge differentiator that work in your favour for board roles. There is an Awards section available on LinkedIn as well.

2. Ask for what you want (board, advisory board) and how others can contact you. This is referred to as a “Call To Action”. For example, at the end of your Summary, add the phrase “seeking board and advisory board roles in the retail, technology or financial services industries. Please contact me at [email address]”. Now people know what you want and can refer you more easily.

3. How have you lead teams, entered new markets, created new revenue? Tell your stories and achievements from a transformation, business strategy and growth perspective and describe the impact you made in the Projects section.

4. What expertise do you bring to the (boardroom) table? Cybersecurity? Financial Expertise in Global Markets? Digital Transformation? This is your value proposition for boards, and the more you can learn about what boards care about the better: Risk Management, Oversight, Governance, Special Committees, Compensation, etc. It is also what you can be “known for”. Write or speak on these topics to build your thought leadership so people start turning to you. Ensure your “headline” under your name has these keywords so people can learn your expertise at a glance.

5. The Organizations section has been revamped for the new LinkedIn design update rolling out this month. Position titles are no longer displayed, making this section best suited for your professional memberships. Be sure to add your board roles to your Work Experience or the Volunteer section as an alternative.

BONUS

Early in your career (and at anytime really), network outside of your organization. Offer to buy lunch and invest in your networking with people who are currently on boards. Recruiters look for those primarily with board experience but most appointments are through networking – and you don’t have to be a former CEO. Change is coming and here is a fantastic post about how companies are starting to open up their options when looking for board members. Worth reading for Exhibit 2!

Also, invest in a personal website to record your accomplishments, bio and speaking engagements and keep everything on your own terms. You can share your future blog posts on LinkedIn, or, if someone from a prominent board is not on LinkedIn, you can send them your latest blog post to showcase your expertise.

photo credit: Stuck in Customs The Endeavor Lifts Off via photopin (license)

Presentation Tips: Speaking Well

Public speaking is your opportunity to showcase your professional knowledge and ability, and it allows clients and employees to see how you do business. Approaches vary with the individual and occasion, but whatever your presentation style, it is a skill you can develop.

Preparation. The more you do, the better your presentation will be.

Prepare. Turn off your computer. Get a coffee. Get some paper. Sit down in a quiet place and write down the major points you want to cover. Next, write two or three sentences for each point, expressing clearly what you want to say. If you can articulate your presentation in this way first, everything will fall into place.

Predict: Anticipate any questions you think will come up during the presentation and prepare the answers. Some of these questions may not come up, but if one does you’ll have an answer ready. That will make you look knowledgeable and professional and the backup material will give you confidence and control.

Play down: If anyone asks, play down your preparation without boastfulness. Believing that it’s easy for you, others will gain confidence in your knowledge and authority.

Pregame. There are a few useful rituals you can observe before the game starts.

Solitude: Give yourself some time alone (20 min.) before the presentation. This will help you clear you mind.

Memory: Go over your presentation again one more time. This will put the facts and figures into your short-term memory, so you won’t have to depend on your notes.

Composure: If you’re feeling nervous, take a moment to put the day into perspective. There are more important things going on in the world.

Delivery. Giving the presentation itself should be easy if you’ve done the preparation.

Breathe: Take a moment before you speak (don’t be obvious) and take a deep breath. This will help you make the mental transition from silence to speaking.

Pace: If you tend to speak too quickly (write “slow down”) in your notes. You can also write “make eye contact,” “enjoy yourself,” and other cues.

Repeat: Repeat the important points. It’s a misconception that repeating yourself is a vice. In oral presentation, it’s a virtue. Two or three times is fine.

Move: If you’re sitting down, gesture with your hands and shoulders. Don’t sit still. If you’re standing, keep a remote control hidden in your hand or pocket (for PowerPoint) and move around the front of the room, seamlessly advancing the slides.

Relax: Enjoy the attention. If you’ve done the preparation, you deserve some quiet self-congratulation. And the more relaxed you are, the more comfortable the room will be with your talk and authority.

Going off Page. There are good reasons to interrupt the plan and go off script.

Voice: Improvisation changes the modulation of your voice and breaks up monotony. It changes the pace and gives participants a break.

Energy: Interaction with the room arouses interest. A rhetorical question can add needed energy; so can an unscripted example or anecdote. You can also plan these moments, to give the appearance of improvisation.

Transitions: The trick is getting back on track without losing pace. You do not want to say, “Now, where was I?” So plan some transitions as part of your preparation and you’ll be ready to go off page if the moment arises.

Question Period. Question period is often dreaded by speakers and participants alike. Speakers worry, because they cannot fully anticipate what will come up; participants worry that they won’t have anything to ask.

Prepare. Again, prepare answers to expected questions in advance and memorize a few relevant facts and figures. This will give you credibility.

Induce: Seed potential questions into your presentation, inviting participants to “ask about that later.” This prompts them to ask your prepared questions (and answers) and gives them a way to participate. Win-win.

Express: Do not nod (“yes”) or shake your head (“no”) before the question has been asked. Look intently and listen. Even if you’ve prepared an answer, you can appear to take a moment. This shows thoughtfulness and reflection. You don’t always want to rush to an answer.

Unanswerable Questions: You cannot anticipate every question, and sometimes you get one you can’t answer.

Express: By not reacting to questions with a nod or a head shake, participants won’t know that you don’t know the answer. That’s another reason to control your body language.

Listen: Don’t ever say, “I hadn’t thought of that.” Participants don’t know what you know, and often you know more than you think you do. Don’t sabotage yourself. Listen to the question and try to find something to answer.

Respond: If you don’t have an answer and you’ve prepared and presented well, you’ve earned the right to say, “I don’t know.” But you can frame that answer by saying, “this is where we are and this is what we know. We need to know more, but this is the place to start.” Bring the focus back to your work and findings.

Confidence. Confidence comes from readiness but also from self-awareness. Remember that you’re presenting because you have something valuable to say. Beyond that, you don’t need to have all the answers and you should trust in your own ability. Practice, and you’ll develop a confident, comfortable presentation style.

photo credit: Pexels

Personal Branding 101 with LinkedIn

When someone searches your name online – what do they find?

It might be your social media accounts and more often than not, it’s your LinkedIn profile that pops up in their search results. That’s why personal branding – for job searching and your working life – starts with LinkedIn as a priority.

Why LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is an employment and business-focused social network. Its members include hiring managers, decision-makers and high net worth executives and “it is the only platform where those ages 30-64 are more likely to be users than those ages 18-29.” Pew Research

Companies and recruiters pay monthly fees to access advanced search tools and profile information. If your number 1 priority is to find employment, your next career move or business development opportunities, it has become the go-to-network.

Note: Think of LinkedIn as a platform to market yourself, not an online resume site. Your resume is about your past, your LinkedIn profile is where more people can read about your strengths, accomplishments and future goals.

What is Personal Branding?

Personal branding is a combination of your persona and “how others refer you” and answers the question “what are you known for”? It’s a priority for many people to develop a personal brand because it’s a competitive world and one that is increasingly online. Personal branding can help give you an edge so that you will be memorable (among hundreds of applicants or hundreds of sales pitches).

Selected LinkedIn Sections for Personal Branding (No Work Experience Required!)

So – does your LinkedIn profile reflect what you have to offer an employer or company? Are you using all of the sections available to you to be found?

There are many sections available but let’s prioritize the profile sections you need to brand yourself effectively:

1. Add keywords to your headline/job title

Be sure to add keywords that tell people at a glance exactly what you want to be known for. Avoid generic titles like “Student” or “Partner”. Use Student of Microbiology and Laboratory Volunteer or Partner, Business Growth Advisor. If your job title cannot be altered, you can usually still add keywords. For example, Teaching Assistant, Social Work and Biology or Senior Manager, Digital Marketing and Social Media or General Manager, Food Service Logistics and Operations.

2. Publish Posts

Are you blogging within LinkedIn? Reposting your own blogs or sharing articles or short posts? The LinkedIn blogging/publishing tool can ensure your entire network sees what you have to say. Keep it professional, either school or work related. Use an image and get even more views. Once you publish, people can see at a glance where your expertise and interests are – building your personal brand overall. Don’t publish too often but when you have something to say about a topic that may advance your career, preferably within your industry or topics related to what you are studying at school.

3. Give back with your Summary (and add media)

Be sure your Summary lists the benefits that you “bring to the table”. If it simply lists who you are or generic statements, the reader will get bored rather quickly – what’s in it for them to get to know you? What can you do for me? For example, I tell people that I can help them get online – what is your offer?

Add media such as slides or links to your summary – people will see at a glance what you are all about. Let them flip through the slides when they land on your profile to showcase your knowledge. Another idea – add some photos about a school or work project.

4. Add Publications

Make it a goal to write for an online publication or newspaper. Whenever you write for a third party, it can bring you prestige and credibility. List them here in the Publications section.

5. Add Projects

Write some mini-stories about your work or school projects and engagements. A potential employer can read them in the Projects section and get to know your working style and what you have done. Remove names of people or companies but treat them like your own personal case studies. Someone interested in hiring you will read them.

6. Add (the right) Skills (with Endorsements)

Look at other profiles and add keywords that reflect your strengths and skills. This is the heart and soul of LinkedIn’s search engine so if you want to be found – fill out this section and keep it updated. Remove endorsements if you don’t want them there – be choosy!

7. Honours and Awards

Work on items for this section throughout your education and career. Many people do not have any awards and it is the best way to differentiate yourself and be memorable – even if you are mid to late career.

8. Recommendations

Ask others for a recommendation you can showcase on your profile – reach out to professors and bosses, managers and those who know you and your work. If nothing else, your audience will read the recommendations. Give recommendations and get them back – don’t worry about the timing. Ask and you shall receive.

9. Groups

The power of groups is to create your own. This is the social part of LinkedIn that can really get you in the right circles to showcase your knowledge. Explore, join, participate and introduce yourself too. When people see the groups you belong to – this is reflection of your brand – so be selective.

Take the time to use LinkedIn for personal branding – instead of just your online resume!

Reference Articles and Notes

From LinkedIn: Getting the most out of LinkedIn as a Teen
From Forbes: Update – 14 is now the minimum age for LinkedIn (in the US): 8 Reasons High School Students Should Be on LinkedIn. Main takeaway – when employers search your name, your LinkedIn profile will display in Google results (if you have a profile). Much better for first impressions online!

photo credit: 2015 WordCamp US | Audience via photopin (license)

Personal Branding to Help Reach the C-Suite

How do you get into a C-suite role? Do you navigate the politics and work hard? Do you take risks and pitch your own promotion? Do you streamline processes that saves millions of dollars? Do you manage a business unit? Sometimes it takes all of these plus more. Much more because the competition is fierce and only getting more competitive.

But the corporate team builders, creators and delegators of this world also have an edge and they use it to their full advantage: personal branding online. Yes, many of them make it a priority to get online.

After more than 10 years of working directly with CEOs and C-suite leaders, I have identified 5 personal branding characteristics they have in common:

– They articulate their strengths.

– They are consistent in their message.

– They deliver results and tell others about it.

– They work hard and go above and beyond.

– They get noticed

All of these aspects of personal branding can be used online to amplify and speed up your own efforts for career advancement. How is it done? By promoting yourself online in a thoughtful and strategic way (often indirectly). Here are some strategies to help do the ground work for your personal brand online:

Articulate Your Strengths

What are you good at? What do you read that is work-related when you have a few minutes to yourself? What do people at work appreciate about you – and why do they refer you?

Once defined, articulate your strengths and gather specific examples:

– Instead of saying you are in internal communications, tell them you are a corporate writer who can inspire participation in company events.
– Instead of saying you are in HR, tell them you take policy and make it relevant to employees’ every day lives.
– Instead of saying you are an entrepreneur, tell them how your product or service creates change.

Write them down, then hone in on how you bring value. Make it memorable.

Online – what is out there right now that defines your strengths? How do you plan on reaching more people than your immediate circle of colleagues?

Be Consistent

No matter what the role, what you deliver consistently? What makes you dependable and trustworthy?

People who selected to advance are reliable, consistent and trustworthy – because someone else’s reputation is on the line if you are not a good fit for the role.

Online – do you present a consistent image that tells your story? Are you publishing content or speaking on a regular basis so people can get to know you and trust you?

Deliver Results and Tell Others

When you deliver on something significant, who notices? Do you tell anyone other than your team about your accomplishments? Do you schedule one on one meetings with your managers when you’ve completed a project? Or tell them that you’ve delivered value, saved costs or helped to grow your company?

Online – do you list your project or career accomplishments? Do you celebrate the wins in your working life?

Work Hard and Go Above and Beyond

Some will still say that the hours matter – but more importantly, how do you use those hours? Do you work hard to finish what you start and go beyond what was asked on your own time? How have you saved or made the company money this quarter? Have you delivered value to employees or helped morale? Did you volunteer for a committee in another department and gained some new work connections? Did you invite a client to an event, lunch or workshop on your dime?

Online – are you seen helping others, sharing information or answering questions?

Get Noticed

Many corporate executives in the C-suite will talk about an internal sponsor or champion who recommended they be considered for the top job (not a mentor, but a sponsor who knows your work and knows you would be a great fit!).

Attract potential sponsors by sharing your thought leadership. Thought leadership is your voice – your speaking engagements, your blog, your business community involvement, on topics relevant to your work environment.

Apply for awards if you haven’t yet been acknowledged within your company or industry – getting noticed means you must invest in yourself.

Online – websites, social networks and company intranets make it easy to share what is important to you to showcase your thought leadership. What are you participating in to get noticed?

Building your personal brand online has rewards that can come from the most unlikeliest of people and places. Take control of it and use it to advance your career into the C-suite.

photo credit: Moving out of the mist via photopin (license)