To create a unique personal brand that attracts attention, drives profitability, and unlocks opportunities, it’s important to develop specific skills.

While it’s essential to grasp the fundamentals of these skills, recognizing also which ones can be outsourced is equally crucial.

Let’s dive into them:

1) Writing Skills

Although “communication skills” may seem like a sufficient term, I chose to be more specific. The ability to write is essential regardless of your intention to hire writers for your blog, social media content, press releases, or any other writing needs. It saves you a significant amount of money.

Also, there will be instances where you may need to write something and there will be no one available to assist you, even if you have the means to pay for help. You must have the competence to put your thoughts into words.

Writing is a skill that anyone can develop by dedicating themselves to it. If you are uncertain about your writing skills, you can start by writing and sharing your work with a friend for free. The important thing is to just start writing. You should be able to express your thoughts, tell stories, and convey your ideas effectively. Your mind should be able to construct sentences that accurately depict the image in your head, allowing your audience to visualize it through your words. It is crucial to enhance your writing skills and learn how to articulate yourself concisely.

2) Speaking Skills

It’s not just about reaching a global audience, but also about effectively communicating at the national level. As you put yourself out there, you’ll begin receiving invitations to speak at various events – from small gatherings to larger speaking opportunities. Imagine being confident and clear in expressing your ideas during these moments. It’s essential to master the art of public speaking.

Sometimes, despite being talented, when you step onto the stage, your words may elude you. And the truth is, no matter how good you are, people won’t believe it if you can’t effectively communicate in front of a large audience. They might see someone else who speaks with confidence and power and assume they are better than you. That’s why it’s vital to learn how to speak in public.

Speaking skills aren’t limited to extroverts; even introverts can become skilled public speakers. Many people who speak in public regularly still experience fear, but they do it anyway. So, although I won’t delve into the specifics of public speaking here, I strongly recommend improving your public speaking skills.

3) Storytelling

This is the spice that adds flavor to every brand. The stories you tell can set you apart from the rest. You have to develop your storytelling abilities in order to enhance your personal brand.

Writing is not just about knowing how to put words on paper; it also involves the skill of storytelling. Some people have the ability to write but struggle with storytelling. It is crucial to understand what kind of stories you want to share and how you want to present them in order to effectively convey your message.

Avoid telling stories in a vague or confusing manner, as it may prevent people from understanding the intended message. People are beginning to misinterpret stories and take them out of context, so it is important to master the skill of storytelling, whether through writing or speaking. As a writer or public speaker, there are times when you need to emotionally connect with your audience by telling stories.

4) Emotional Intelligence

As you develop your network and become more visible, you’ll attract different people who may not always behave well. Some individuals may bring negativity and confrontation. While you have the right to respond or even confront them, it’s crucial to consider the image you want to create for your brand.

Even if you are justified in your reaction, how you respond to direct messages, comments, and questions should demonstrate emotional intelligence. You have to be mindful of your own emotions and understanding of the emotions of others to avoid being misinterpreted or misunderstood. Emotional intelligence is key in establishing yourself as a thought leader.

5) Marketing Skills

Or rather, self-promotion. It is necessary to be able to showcase your skills, talents, and gifts without coming across as too promotional or pushy. You need to find subtle ways to let people know how good you are without explicitly stating it. This aspect of self-promotion is crucial.

How can you effectively communicate your expertise without directly proclaiming it?

What kind of images and words should you use to convey your message?

This is where self-promotion becomes significant.

In addition to self-promotion, having core marketing skills is essential. You need to know how to market and sell your products or services, whether they are digital or physical. While you may eventually hire a professional marketer, it is important to have a good understanding of marketing so that you can evaluate their effectiveness and ensure they are not just out to make money from you. So, first, learn how to promote yourself subtly without explicitly doing so, and then learn how to effectively promote your services and products.

6) Average Digital Skills

In order to thrive in the 21st century, it is crucial to have a good grasp of digital skills. It is not enough to simply dabble in social media or have basic knowledge of technology. To truly succeed, you must understand how to optimize social media channels, manage email lists, and create landing pages.

While you may not achieve the same level of expertise as professionals, learning these skills can save you a significant amount of money, especially when starting out. As your personal brand grows and you have more financial resources, you can outsource these tasks. However, when you are just getting started, it is essential to know how to design, edit videos, utilize various social media platforms, go live, send emails, and more. These average digital skills will allow you to effectively navigate the digital world and position yourself for success.

7) Networking Skills

This is crucial for building your personal brand and creating valuable connections with people. These skills open up numerous opportunities for relationships and networking, but it’s essential to know how to make the most of them. Otherwise, they will simply slip away, and you wouldn’t benefit from them.

Whether you attend events as a speaker, panelist, or simply as a participant, it’s important to learn how to connect with people. The person sitting right beside you during an event could be the key to your next opportunity. Networking is a skill that anyone can learn. It involves starting conversations, keeping them going, and even sustaining relationships beyond the initial meeting. Building strong relationships and mastering networking skills are crucial for developing your personal brand.

8) Leadership Skills

Being a leader is not just about holding a title, it is a skill that anyone can learn. You don’t need a title to be a leader, but as you build your personal brand, you may begin to find yourself in leadership situations.

Whether or not you have a title, building your personal brand helps you establish yourself as a leader in your industry. It’s important to remember that leadership is a skill that can be learned, and it’s not always tied to a title. If you don’t feel like you have the necessary skills to effectively carry out the responsibilities of a leadership position, consider enrolling in leadership courses.

As a CEO, executive, or career professional, your personal brand is important, and you need to be able to lead people and ideas in your industry. Don’t let a lack of leadership skills hold you back from achieving your goals.

These are the major skills you need to build a personal brand that stands out, that is positioned for high-level opportunities, that is profitable and visible. As I mentioned earlier, all these skills can be learnt. Start exploring free resources or pay for courses on these different skills. By all means, please learn these skills.

If you’re unsure about how to get started building your personal brand, feel free to reach out and book a strategy session with me. You can send an email to blessingokebe.assistant@gmail.com.