In today’s world, everything is changing, including how executives and managers brand themselves and their careers on the Internet.
A few months ago, I was on a podcast and said, “In the next 5-8 years, 80% of all recruiting and interviewing will be done automatically using AI technology”. Based upon 15+ years in the IT and technical, executive staffing industry and the research I’ve done, I believe this will happen and is starting to happen now.
Why Personal and Executive Branding Is The Future of Career Management
As technology replaces more and more white collar jobs, competition for executive and management positions will become more competitive; a lot more competitive.
Ex-Google China President Kai-Fu Lee, said last year, AI – artificial intelligence will take white collar jobs faster than it will take blue collar jobs.”
I agree with Mr. Lee that the AI revolution will come sooner than many people think and masses of job losses will occur because of artificial intelligence, within the next 10 years. This short video is worth watching.
In this video, it’s rather amazing that the baby boomer reporter thinks robots are clumsy and have difficulty stabilizing themselves. Obviously, he hasn’t seen any robots from Boston Dynamics.
The traditional way that executives and managers marketed themselves and their job skills is rapidly changing and creating a brand that is aligned with what an employer is looking for, is the best way to stay relevant in our changing society.
The Evolving Future of an Executive Brand
Executives and managers are going to have to become proficient in technology and how business automation tools are playing apart in their industry.
I have interviewed and talked with hundreds of executives and managers in the IT and engineering industries over the last 10 years and found that many of them have no idea how technology will impact their industry and/or profession. Their general attitude was, “it’s not something I’m worried about” or “when it becomes something that I need to know, then I’ll learn about it”.
My favorite is, “That’s above my pay grade and level.” Another great one is, “I know educating myself and branding myself is important but I will have to get to that when I have more time.”
The situation in our current technology revolution is, we don’t live in a world where anyone can afford to procrastinate and wait for change before learning about it.
As the late great W. Edwards Deming once said; “It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.”
He also said, “If you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.” Today, its, “If you can’t describe what you’re doing as a process and how that process can be automated, using the latest technology, then your future career path could be much shorter than you realize.”
If you’re not looking at and studying what’s happening now with technology and automation and how it can and will affect your future, then you will probably be passed by very quickly and become irrelevant in the future.
I had a senior vice president, of a large company, tell me in 2007, that YouTube and social media were just fads and nothing to really consider for business.
I Have a LinkedIn Profile
Every professional should have a professional LinkedIn profile but what about a TED Talk video, that’s even better. Do you have your own website and do you understand basic SEO – search engine optimization and how to rank organically or are you leaving that up to someone else to do for you? A lot of people, want you to think this is like rocket science but it’s not. Just think, high quality, well written content.
There are some CEO’s of major companies that don’t even have a LinkedIn profile.
I believe that managers and executives today, must increase their skill level and knowledge when it comes to the Internet and technology.
I’ve worked for and with many executives, who never read business books or study anything related to technology. Many also think that looking at media news headlines gives them enough of an advantage of knowing what’s going on in the world today. This was a good strategy in the past but not today.
The Sad Truth Today is, a Lot of People Don’t Read Anymore
Warren Buffett was once asked about the key to success, he pointed to a stack of nearby books and said, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”
Bill Gates, reads about 50 books per year, which breaks down to 1 per week
Mark Cuban, reads more than 3 hours every day
Elon Musk, is an avid reader and when asked how he learned to build rockets, he said “I read books.”
Mark Zuckerberg, resolved to read a book every 2 weeks throughout 2015
Reading allows us to use our imagination and stimulates creativity and most importantly, it develops our concentration skills.
I read a lot myself and found it to be much easier, when I unhooked myself from social media and my phone. My goal with this website, is to not only learn about advancing technologies but how I can use them to my advantage.
The technological revolution that we are currently in, is in its infancy and what is coming is beyond what anyone can imagine right now. One thing that I know for sure, anyone who thinks that this change will have no effect on them and their career, does not understand artificial intelligence and how it works.
Congratulations if you actually read this article and made it this far because 80% of the people who started to read it, didn’t get this far or did you scan it?
Some Solid Advice on Planning Your Executive Brand
Do whatever you can to brush up on your speaking skills
Watch videos from people like Bill Gates, former President, Barack Obama and Tony Robbins and others. Practice your public speaking skills whenever you can. Rhetoric is something that can set you apart.
Do a TED Talk, Media Interviews and Create YouTube Videos
YouTube and videos are the second largest search platform on the Internet. Get yourself out there talking about the things your passionate about.
Always keep in mind, that you can also do a lot of damage to your brand by putting something out into the public. I would stay away from political and controversial subjects, unless that is what your brand about.
Have Your Own Website
Social media is not that great for blogging right now and you will get a lot more out of organically ranking your content on Google or using YouTube videos.
Have a website that you own and control. Don’t let another service or company control your website. Once you have a website, write/blog, edit and post, then do it over and over again. Remember that, the picture you use and the title, are as important as your content.
Don’t use generic corporate looking pictures.
Read A Lot of Books Concerning Your Profession and Technology
Start reading and watching YouTube videos from the leaders in your profession. Learn as much as you can from them. Find reading material on artificial intelligence and business automation and learn how it can be applied to your industry or profession.
Now that you have all that knowledge…
Write Books on Your Profession or Industry
Self-publish books on Amazon and create paperbacks, kindle books and audio books. This isn’t that hard to do and you can learn to do it quickly. Spend your money on editing, layout and most importantly, the cover.
The more you write the better, you will get good at it. Use your website and blog posts as practice for your books. Yes, I said books.
Every Brand Has A Logo
Get someone to create a logo for you and your brand and use this logo on personal business cards (yes, have your own business cards and not dull looking cards), your videos and your website.
There are other things you can do but these 6 tips will put you ahead of most of your competition.
