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“Because the status quo is meant to be shattered.”
That phrase, splashed across the LinkedIn profile of Dahlia El Gazzar, is both a personal philosophy and a call to action. It’s about getting rid of old practices, habits and limiting beliefs about yourself to become a distinctive brand presence in your industry and your market.
El Gazzar and her team at Dahlia+Agency are back at NAR NXT by popular demand. Last year, in their Revitalize Your Brand Bar (part of AXIS), the team conducted one-on-one consultations with hundreds of NAR NXT attendees. (There’s no charge!)
El Gazzar offers this advice on how to define and strengthen your brand:
1. Know your superpowers. Maybe you have extraordinary empathy, a special aptitude for numbers and data, impeccable taste, or a finely honed customer list. Friends, family, colleagues and past clients can help you discover your special gifts. Those are the foundation of your personal brand.
2. Make your LinkedIn profile more than an online resume. Be sure it is complete, reflects your brand, and doesn’t sit idle. Write content that reinforces your brand—or share posts that resonate with you. “The world needs you,” El Gazzar says.
3. Be aware of your digital body language. When you’re videochatting with colleagues and clients, your brand is on display. Show engagement through what you wear, your facial expression and your camera angle. Resist the urge to look at your phone while others are talking.
4. Don’t be triggered. So, you had a bad morning: The kids were late for school, your spouse was inconsiderate, you spilled coffee on your favorite jacket, clients backed out of the deal. Rather than focus on such triggers, focus on the glimmers: the first buds of spring, sun shining through the window, a text from a friend, a great client testimonial. “Sometimes, we face heavy stuff,” El Gazzar says. “The glimmers get us through it.”
