Originally published in 2008. Updated in 2025 as part of the Personal Branding Blog relaunch under Brown Brothers Media.
I’ve already gone over the top 5 personal branding myths and feel that some people just have a lack of understanding on this topic, and are afraid of it, so they go against it.
Personal branding is NOT all about you. Personal branding is for everyone and you simply don’t have a choice, whether to brand yourself or not, because you’ve already been branded since birth.
You know where I stand (it’s pretty obvious), so I’d rather give you a post that positions personal branding as beneficial to corporate America, so you understand that this process isn’t just for consultants. Sure, you can brand yourself to get a job, but a lot of people have difficulty succeeding in the workplace. Just because you get the job, you certainly aren’t off the hook!
The following are five proven ways for you to successfully brand yourself within a company.
1) Become the go-to personal for a specific skill or expertise
This tip applies to anyone who wants to stand out at work. Most workplaces are built on collaboration, and every team needs reliable experts.
People who are comfortable with technology, digital tools, and communication platforms often have an advantage here. When someone needs help with a presentation, an analytics dashboard, or an internal system, raise your hand and say, “I can help.”
You want to become known for something (brand yourself), so that when people need help in a specific area, your namepops into their head.
2) Dress the part
What you wear in an interview might be different from what you wear once you’re working at the company. Depending on your style, the company’s culture, and even the day of the week, your approach to dress may change.
Also, a factor is the nature of your job. For instance, engineers typically wear t-shirts and jeans (I lived with one last year). Startup companies are usually more flexible. If you do sales for a Fortune 500 company or are in a client-facing role, you are probably going to wear a suit.
Be conscious of how people dress in your role and dress the part. Professionalism includes aligning with your workplace culture while maintaining your own personal polish.
3) Be a team player
If you find yourself taking all the credit for your projects and isolating your team members, you are clearly doing something wrong.
The best brands in the workplace thrive on helping the team succeed. You will benefit by being a good team-player by forging stronger relationships with colleagues and by the results you will obtain through your overall effort.
People will want to work with you on your next big project if you treat them right and you follow-through on commitments.
4) Share your expertise on behalf of your company
Many professionals share insights or stories related to their work, which strengthens both their reputation and their company’s.
Writing an article, contributing to a company newsletter, recording a short video, or leading an internal workshop can all help you showcase your expertise.
These efforts don’t just build your professional credibility, they also help position your organization as a place filled with knowledgeable, engaged people.
Doing this for your company can help get the word out and, from the corporate perspective, it’s not costing them a dime! You will also establish fame and reputation inside your company and it could boost your career.
5) Make your manager look like a rockstar
In general, one of the reasons I’ve been successful is because I’ve helped make other people successful first. This is the ultimate way to make a name for yourself. I’ll be talking about this for years to come.
When it comes to branding yourself within a company, the first person you need to make successful is your manager. Good managers will give you credit on your work and talk you up to their manager (typically a director).
By doing quality work, your manager has heavily artillery when venturing into the executive jungle. If he gets a bonus, raise, promotion or some other special recognition, you better believe it will work in your favor.
Conclusion
Branding yourself within a company isn’t about self-promotion; it’s about consistency, collaboration, and credibility.
Become known for your expertise, present yourself professionally, contribute to your team’s success, and share your knowledge to lift others.
When you make people around you better and build trust across the organization, your reputation naturally grows, and that’s the most powerful brand of all.
This article is part of Personal Branding Blog’s Legacy Series — highlighting timeless insights from our archive. Learn more about our story here.
