If you’re an executive in the corporate world, there’s a good chance that you are constantly thinking about ways that you can grow in your current role, what you need to do to get promoted into your next role or even thinking about where you want to be 10 years from now.

You likely have a ton of experience in your industry, you’re good at what you do and you have a passion for your work, so new opportunities are always top of mind for you. 

Sometimes these opportunities are big moves, like new roles at new companies, while other times you simply want to grow where you’re at.

Beyond your actual job role, you might also be interested in speaking at conferences and events, leading teams in new ways, writing a book or being the lead for a company project. 

Whatever your case may be, you know that opportunity is out there and you might be wondering what exactly it takes to help you stand out so that you’re chosen for the opportunity at hand.

If this is you, I want you to know that there is a way you can set yourself apart in your industry and be seen as the person that is well-deserving of what you’re striving for. 

And if you’ve been around for a while and tuned into my content, you might already know what I’m going to say.

➡️ Personal Presence ⬅️
I know what you might be thinking…

“Really Linds?! We’re still talking about personal presence??”

Yes, we are my friend and here’s why:

As an executive, having a personal presence helps you and your brand or business in critical areas that you may not even realize. I refer to those areas as The Four Pillars and they include recruitment (more on that pillar here!), retention, brand awareness (personal or company) and sales.

Beyond those four pillars, your personal presence as an executive can also grow your thought leadership and that alone can directly impact the new opportunities that may come your way.

To help you see how this works, let’s dive into this new opportunity piece.

How Personal Presence Can Help You Land New Opportunities In Your Career

As I’ve mentioned in past blogs (like this one), personal presence is much more than just what you’ve accomplished or who you work for.

Instead, showing up in this way gives direct insight to who you are, how you got to where you are and creates genuine connection with like-minded people who value similar things as you. 

So what does this have to do with landing new opportunities in your career?

Well… a lot!

Establishing your personal presence on LinkedIn specifically sets you apart from your peers because you’re choosing to do something that many are unwilling to do.

Many people think that “personal presence” or “personal brand” means just posting about yourself all the time. But the truth is that you’re actually taking your personal stories, experiences and expertise and showing up consistently with the goal to connect with people in a deeper way. 

Beyond that connection, you’re also revealing your values and beliefs through this content and you’re proudly showing what you stand for while giving lessons and takeaways to your audience along the way.

When you do this consistently, you will overtime build an audience of people that want to hear and learn from you - this is the thought leader piece of the puzzle. 

And guess what? People want thought leaders in their bubble. 

When someone is hosting a conference, workshop or event, they want guest speakers who are considered thought leaders to speak to their audience. 

Think about it ⬇️

If you are in charge of finding a speaker for a conference at your company, who are you going to choose:

Person A who only posts on LinkedIn every few months when their company gets recognized in the news OR Person B who uses LinkedIn as a platform to motivate, inspire and encourage others with consistent posts filled with stories and lessons that people can benefit from?

You know the answer!

And here’s the thing: both of those people are probably really good at what they do. They both probably have a ton of knowledge and expertise that people could learn from. Heck, Person A might even be more “qualified” on paper.

But the difference is that Person B is being more forward with how they share what they know and they’re doing it in a way that people are drawn to. 

The same is true for a promotion or new job role. When a hiring manager is filtering through applicants or trying to decide between two candidates in the interview process, the person with more influence is going to catch the eye.

The reason we’re seeing more of this in a hiring process is because the way people work has changed. What once was all about skill and experience on your resume is now a combination of who someone is, what drives them, how they work, what they believe and what they value (ahem, all things that make up your personal brand/presence).

In fact, 85% of U.S. recruiters and HR professionals say that an employee’s online reputation influences their hiring decisions.

And what’s even more fascinating than that is that nearly 50% of employers say they won’t interview a candidate that they can’t find online. 

Regardless of the opportunity that you’re striving for, it’s clear that building your personal brand and showing up with personal presence has a direct impact.

So, if you feel like your career is at a standstill and you know more is out there, but you’re lost on how to achieve it, I encourage you to lean into your personal presence, specifically on LinkedIn.

Your experiences, your knowledge, your personal challenges and your stories have a place online and people need what you have. I want you to believe that!

If you’re not sure how to get started with content like this, refer HERE for my favorite LinkedIn content creation hack.

And if you need more help, I’m always here for you!