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August 12, 2016 at 03:00 AM
Despite having the two highest unfavorable ratings of any major presidential candidates in history, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have outlasted their competitors—and one of them is going to become the leader of the free world. What does success in the face of such highly unfavorable ratings teach us about personal branding? And what can working professionals at every level learn from it?
Beginning on the next page, brand strategist and media expert source Karen Leland, author of the newly released title, “The Brand Mapping Strategy: Design, Build, and Accelerate Your Brand,” examines both candidates’ personal branding successes, challenges and resulting lessons for us all in six specific areas. According to Leland’s predictive Brand Mapping Matrix, the success of any brand — in business, politics or otherwise — boils down to how the brand performs across these six key dimensions. Leland details each dimension below, including exactly how each candidate fared therein as well as the correlated Personal Brand Takeaways, to help other enterprising professionals achieve in kind.
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Every business person, from secretary to CEO, needs to start by assessing their personal brand and be truthful about the degree to which it exists by design or default. (Photo: Thinkstock)
1. Develop your brand by design, not default. Know precisely where you are so you can discern where you need to go.
Trump: The Donald has clearly defined himself as the billionaire Maverick, owing no one anything. Trump has carefully crafted his image as the anti-establishment candidate proudly going against the grain. As a general strategy, it has allowed him to get away with more than the typical business leader or politician normally would.
Clinton: Despite her best efforts to promote herself as “the qualified candidate,” many Americans have by default stamped Clinton with the brand of Matron—part of the old guard of Washington politics. Recently she has begun to pivot and is trying to find her way to a brand by design based on straight-talking thoughtfulness.
*** Personal Brand Takeaway: Every business person, from secretary to CEO, needs to start by assessing their personal brand and be truthful about the degree to which it exists by design or default. Then they need to take stock of the impact that brand is having. Is your brand producing the reputation you desire? Is it creating the environment and responses you are looking for? If not, a pivot to a more powerful personal brand may be needed.
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Pay attention to how your anchor statement — which should be no more than a minute — is resonating and landing with your desired audience. (Photo: Thinkstock)
2. Anchor Statement. What is the go-to description of who you are and what you do? This is sometimes referred to as an elevator pitch.
Clinton: To date, Mrs. Clinton has made her marketing bottom line “I’m the woman candidate,” but that has not played well with Sanders supporters and younger voters in general. While Clinton’s status as the first woman Presidential nominee is certainly history-making and a proud moment, as an elevator pitch, it’s flawed. She would be better served by focusing on another message (consider Obama’s focus on messages of hope and change, as opposed to his race) that resonates with a wider slice of democrats and the population at large.
Trump: Four words—“Make America Great Again.” This single sentence has become Trump’s signature call to arms, his reason why voters should check the box next to his name come November. The issue Trump will face as the election gets closer is how he will translate this general idea into specific policies.
*** Personal Brand Takeaway: All business people need to be able to present their brand in less than a minute. For example: When at a cocktail party you are asked the standard, “What do you do?” can you answer in a few short sentences that pique the listener’s interest? If not, your anchor statement needs some work. In addition, it’s important to pay attention to how your anchor statement is resonating and landing with your desired audience.
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Position yourself by articulating how your brand speaks to the needs of your audience and the unique way you address those needs. (Photo: Thinkstock)
3. Unique branding proposition. What is it about what you do, or how you do it, that makes you unique, distinct and special? What sets you apart?
Trump: The presumed Republican nominee, Trump has taken a two-pronged approach to differentiating himself. First off, he is keen to point out (at every possible opportunity) that he is a businessman, as opposed to a career politician. Secondly, his message of “I’m willing to go it alone,” whether it relates to raising money to fund his campaign or being supported by the Republican party, is at the heart of his “why I’m unique” message.
Clinton: Hillary’s strongest point of differentiation to date has been “I’m the woman candidate.” The problem is that too much of her messaging has focused on this, and the voters don’t really seem to care.
*** Personal Brand Takeaway: Positioning yourself by specifically articulating how your brand speaks to the needs of your audience, and the unique way you address those needs, is critical to creating an effective personal brand. And the more specific you can be, the better.
What you say has power, but the way you say it — your tone — has just as much impact. (Photo: Thinkstock)
