What kind of leadership brand are you creating? “But I’m not a product – heck I don’t even have a logo, why would I have a brand?” you might be asking.

I respectfully disagree, my friend. No, I’m not a marketing expert, but I do play one on TV. Er, seriously, though, I have read enough books on marketing to know that your brand is not a logo or a slogan. Your brand is what you’ve become known for. And yes, as a leader you have a brand, whether you realize or not.

What are known for?
How do you show up each day?
Do you come to work in an upbeat mood and support your team members one day, but then snap people’s heads off the next?
Are you a Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde Leader?

Your brand is what people expect from you. And successful leaders know that consistency is the key.

For people to feel secure and thus, be productive, they need to know that the same rules apply day in and day out, and they need to know which “you” will be showing up. When team members don’t know how you’ll behave, react, and respond from one day to the next, they feel as though they are walking on egg shells. They are off-balance and unsure of themselves. What was a great idea yesterday might be cause for a good chewing out today. Nobody wants to work in that kind of environment and studies show that having an inconsistent boss has a detrimental impact on productivity. (Big surprise, right?)

You are creating your leadership brand every single day. You may not be consciously aware of the image that you are crafting, but the people around you are. You can call it what you want – your reputation, your style, your trademark, or your brand.

Again, I ask you what are you known for?
Are you known to be a loose cannon that will go off at the slightest provocation, or are you known to be a rock-solid dependable supporter of your people?

In one of my previous positions, way back in the day, we had a manager of a neighboring department who was of the Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde variety. The poor people who worked with him were constantly nervous and jittery, lest they set him off. It was a regular morning ritual for them to first determine which one of his personas had shown up that day, and then adjust their behaviors accordingly. Just about the only thing they could count on was that he was consistently inconsistent! Many talented people passed through that department, but sadly few stayed for long. The stress was just too much.

Think about the lost productivity, the poor morale, the missed opportunities for creativity and innovation, and yes, the potential lost customers all due to the inconsistent and erratic behaviors of this one manager.

Woody Allen once said “80% of life is showing up.” I disagree. More important than showing up is HOW you show up, and whether the same “you” shows up consistently from one day to the next.

I encourage you to think about what kind of leadership brand you are creating. Right now. Today. Do your team members know what to expect when you walk in in the morning? Think about it.
Action Time! What will you:

• start doing,
• stop doing, or
• continue doing

to create a positive, consistent brand that people can really count on? Use the comment box below to share your action plan with us!