How to build a polished work from home personal brand
Working from home is no excuse for a poorly represented personal brand. Create one that projects professionalism and personality, builds trust, and improves performance.
Whether it’s working from home full-time or a hybrid model, it’s safe to guess working from home is here to stay in some way.
A Forbes article highlighted these work-from-home stats:
By 2025, it’s estimated that in the US, 22% of the workforce will be working remotely. It suggests a continuous and gradual shift towards remote work.
The trend is reflected in workers’ preferences. 98% of workers want to work from home at least some of the time. This implies a growing affinity for the flexibility and autonomy working from home offers.
16% of companies in the US are already fully remote. They are paving the way for the feasibility of the model others will follow.
As workers worldwide were sent home in recent years, your work-from-home personal brand was likely caught off-guard. Years on, there’s less excuse for a sloppy personal brand when you show up online.
Working from home is no longer the surprise intruder into all corners of your personal life. So, just like in the office, it’s time to start being more intentional about how your personal brand is professionally showing up online.
In this blog, I’m sharing my top tips for a polished personal brand online:
Tip #1: Dress for the job you have
You’ve likely heard the saying:
“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
With the proliferation of working-from-home it seems many have forgotten to dress for the job they have.
How is your work-from-home wardrobe helping or hindering your personal brand? Or even your performance (more on this in a minute).
As I’ve shared in previous blogs on personal style, clothes communicate for you. Our brains are conditioned to attribute certain styles, shapes and colours to certain meanings. So, while your yoga pants and sweat pants (if you’re even wearing any at all) might be more comfortable, what are they saying about your personal brand?
When we all first started working from home, few could understand why I was still getting ready for work. Intuitively, it felt right to me. It turned out there was some science to it. A psychological phenomenon has been termed “enclothed cognition”. It relates to how the physical experience of wearing certain clothing affects your cognitive processes. And that the symbolic meaning of certain clothing activates abstract concepts relating to its meaning.
Studies have also shown that formal clothing improves cognition processes related to problem-solving and abstract thinking. Meaning “dress for success” is a cliche worth hanging on to.
The way you dress can help or hinder the perceptions others have of you - your credibility. The trust others have in you. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. I’ve sat in enough leadership discussions to know that working from home tests some of even the best leaders’ trust. Don’t give others a reason to doubt your professionalism and work ethic.
Create confidence through your clothing. Wash your face. Brush your hair. If you normally would, apply a little makeup. Wear pants.
Tip #2: Set the scene
Start seeing where you take your calls as the backdrop for your personal brand. Make efforts to set the scene for what you want to communicate. No one is asking you to design the next Broadway set, but tiny efforts can go a long way. Tidy up, and place items with intention - much like you would your office desk. Your office desk was once the key little window into a behind-the-scenes look at your personal brand. Your video call background is your new office desk. What do you want it to say for you?
Whatever your space, a quick browse of some of your favourite YouTube creators or Pinterest might help with ideas. Pay attention to the placement of books, plants, personal artefacts or other visual cues.
While you’re thinking like a set designer, don’t forget the power of lightning. Pick the best spot for natural light. If it’s not possible, add your own. Bring in a lamp or even computer or laptop lights. Create a more welcoming experience for the guests of your work-from-home personal brand.
Tip #3: Have higher meeting etiquette standards
While working from home, it’s easy to get a little too relaxed, even with basic manners. Especially when it’s become the norm to relax the usual rules of etiquette. But, if anything, while working from home, you should be raising, not lowering the meeting etiquette bar.
Online meetings reduce all the usual sensory cues people would normally experience. It’s harder to hear, to see full body language, to make meaningful eye contact, and it’s harder to know who’s trying to speak when - or, who’s even listening.
While you can’t control what others do, elevate your personal brand’s professionalism with these simple standards:
Turn on your video
Turn off mute (unless asked otherwise)
Pay attention to the meeting you’re in
Be alert to when others are trying to speak
Be aware of your body language e.g. your posture
I want to be more specific about the final point - posture. Don’t think this goes unnoticed. I once had a CEO complain to me about how someone was slumped in an online meeting. Along with their interpretations of what that must mean. If 55% of your communication is based on non-verbal cues, your posture speaks volumes. By sitting up straight, you convey focus and attention.
So, say Sayonara to a sloppy work-from-home personal brand. Convey a professional and polished personal brand wherever you are. Because, just like in the best branding, consistency builds trust in your brand.
