What’s your style?
You may think about your personal style just in terms of your clothes, or your home. It’s not limited to that. Your personal style is also important in your business.
Your personal style and your business style don’t have to be different. In fact, when what you do and how you do it is integrated with who you are, then you’re being your authentic self in your business. And wow, is that ever a whole lot easier than pretending to be somebody else at work!
Isn’t that part of why you chose to be an entrepreneur? So you could be more yourself?
Now, I’m not saying, let it all hang out! Consider the other person, your client or your team member, and really think about the outcome. Being thoughtful and smart about the style you choose will increase your chances of success.
How you communicate is part of your style.
Think deeply about your marketing. Is what you’re saying to your clients and prospects in your own voice?
Your voice, whether read or heard, is distinctive. It sets you apart, makes you recognizable, and distinguishes you from every other business. It is part of what makes up your brand. Your brand isn’t just your logo. It’s the sum of everything the client sees and hears.
When that brand, that style, resonates with a particular prospect, you’ve likely got yourself a new client.
Is your team reflecting your style too? When your team interacts with a client, are they being consistent with your style, your branding?
If someone is writing for you, perhaps social media posts, or an email, help them understand your voice by talking with them so they get to know you. Provide examples, and give feedback. If someone is introducing you at a webinar or a meeting, write out for him or her how you’d like to be presented, in your own style. In that way, they become part of your team.
Everything that your team does matters, whether it’s a full-time staff person or a one-project virtual assistant. That is especially true in their interactions with clients.
Make choices about how you interact with your clients. Choose your style, and communicate it clearly to your team. Do you answer every email? Let the team know. How do you respond in the email? At a meeting, is your team friendly and approachable?
It may seem like just a simple e-mail or a moment’s interaction with a staff member, but that moment can have a significant effect on how your business is perceived. Take the time to help your team members get really clear on your business’ style, how you do things, how you communicate, how you treat clients.
Your style includes other parts of your business too. How do you choose to behave in your interactions with team members? How do you ask for things? How do you make your expectations clear? Consider what style you are choosing and how it affects the outcomes you want.
Ultimately, it comes down to, what do you want to achieve? When your style reflects that, integrates with that, you’ll have a smoother process.
You are at the heart of your business. The unique you and the style you choose to express are integral to its success.
What’s your style? Make that distinctive style part of your business. It matters.
How do you see your personal style showing up in your business? Share in the comments below!
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Here’s your Alchemy Assignment, your chance to transform what you learned in this article into awareness and action for you and your business:
Pick one process to start. Consider your client interactions. For example, what happens when someone approaches your business about your product or service? What’s your current process? Who interacts with the person? What’s the nature of the interaction? An email? A phone call? Write it down in a list or map out what actually happens. Then go back and ask yourself, is this really reflecting my chosen style? If it’s not, make adjustments.