Marketing, when you boil it all down, seeks one purpose above all else: Make your brand stand out.
In a world of endless choices, the option we often choose is the brand we recognize first – the one that made itself memorable to us. Maybe it was a commercial, a funny video on social media, or a celebrity ambassador. Some brands – like some people – get embedded in our brains.
But what exactly makes a person memorable? Unforgettable people tend to share several qualities, which means it’s possible for us to adopt those qualities to “market” ourselves in a way that helps us stand out. And this ability to stand out matters in business. Just as memorable brands can be more successful than forgettable ones, memorable people are often the thought leaders and industry captains we aspire to become.
Want to learn how to stand out at work? These tips may help you do it.
1. Make a Great First Impression
“You only have one chance to make a first impression,” as the saying goes. But starting off strong often starts before you even meet a new client, prospect, employee, or any other individual. To help make yourself stand out from the get-go, first do your homework. Who are you meeting? How can you connect with them? Prepare some talking points that may help reveal how much you genuinely care about the relationship. Don’t be afraid to rehearse these ideas in advance, either in front of a mirror or by recording a voice memo. Speaking clearly, slowly, and articulately can take practice, but it’s one of the keys to making sure your point gets across.
It’s also useful to pay close attention to your body language. Even if your verbal communication is on point, certain postures, facial expressions, or subconscious gestures – slouching, making too much or too little eye contact, tapping your foot, clicking a pen, or scratching your nose, for example – can all convey nervousness or discomfort. Working on these subtle cues can make you appear confident, comfortable, and, yes, more memorable.
2. Stand Out by Being Different, Not Necessarily “Better”
Being the “best” may sound ideal, but it can be hard to achieve. And, really, who cares? With billions of people in the world, who is the objective judge of what’s “best”? Maybe you deliver proposals a few minutes earlier, or your presentations are more polished. Perhaps you regularly send thank-you emails after interviews or meetings. While these practices can help you stand out, it’s often the extremes that really get noticed. But going to the extreme may take more effort than you might be willing to take on. Are you willing to forgo a work-life balance to become the foremost master of your craft, for instance? For some, that works. For others – maybe those with families – balance is preferable.
Fortunately, there are other ways to stand out. Instead of aiming to be “the best,” take a look at what makes you different. What are the unique traits that make you, you? If your industry is stuffy but you’re casual, own it. If you’re louder than most, harness that ability to get people pumped up. Don’t be afraid to break through the status quo. Think about the characteristics that make you different from everyone else in your industry and find a way to build them up, to make them a part of your brand.
While some of us are born storytellers with a flair for the dramatic, even those of us who lack a natural way with words can train to be better.
3. Be Remembered as the “Go-To” Person
When someone asks you what you do for a living, you might say, “I do legal work,” or, “I help people with the accounting,” or, “I set up computer systems.” Instead of distilling your craft into a generic reply, aspire to be the “go-to” person – the subject-matter expert – for a niche category in your industry. So, instead of setting up computers, be “the infotech guru.” Why does this matter? Because language has great power. In thinking about how to make people remember you, remember that what you call yourself matters, and you have the power to speak who you are into existence.
Think about your areas of expertise and label yourself accordingly. You handle deliveries? Now, you’re a “logistics wizard.” Plenty of people do branding, but you’re “the marketing maestro.” Being memorable means defining yourself on your own terms, rather than letting other people define you according to theirs. Market yourself as the expert you are, but also be sure to fulfill the self-prescribed position – you likely don’t want to be remembered for talking the talk without walking the walk.
4. Distinguish Yourself by Listening Intently to Others
People can spot when you feign interest in them. Genuinely paying attention to the conversation, actively focusing on what’s being said, and showing that you’ve been listening can help make sure the speaker feels heard. In fact, intentional, effortful listening is associated with greater interpersonal chemistry, according to an article in Psychology Today.
When you listen intently, you also set yourself up to better remember the conversation – which in itself can help make you more memorable. So, be the person who repeats and confirms the speaker’s name. Focus on important details so that you can reference them later. Ask follow-up questions, and make eye contact. We all love to feel like we matter. Demonstrating a real interest in other people – and being grateful for their willingness to share – can help you stand out from the crowd.
5. Let Your Authenticity Help You Stand Out
If you want to be memorable, it can help to show who you really are. Share stories of your failures and mistakes, and be open about how much effort you put in to get you where you are today. Personal stories – especially ones that relate to overcoming or dealing with mental health struggles – can normalize the ups and downs of being human, while reducing stigmas around anxiety, depression, and other hurdles.
Authentically positioning vulnerability as not a weakness, but a strength, can make you more relatable than those who only project an air of perfection. It can also help others feel more comfortable around you – meaning, they may be more likely to remember you, interact with you, and even open up to you in the future.
6. Tell Noteworthy Stories
Finding ways to connect with people in a way that appeals to their imagination can create memorable bonds. Particularly in industries that we seldom think of as imaginative – like accounting or house cleaning – setting yourself apart can be as simple as telling great stories. Grew up in a home where the degree of cleanliness verged on the divine? Tell the story of how you’ve turned your childhood chores into a professional passion, offering a pristine touch of home in every space you clean.
While some of us are born storytellers with a flair for the dramatic, even those of us who lack a natural way with words can train to be better. If you’re not confident in your storytelling ability, try to prepare a simple anecdote before a key meeting or sales pitch. Brainstorm ways to craft a vivid, stand-out story. What details can you add that will help listeners create a mental picture? When you engage people creatively, you may just earn a spot in their memories.
7. Be Remembered for Doing What You Love
“Find something you love to do, and then figure out how to get paid for it.”
In a world where many people chase after titles or paychecks, those with real, honest enthusiasm for their craft can leave a lasting impression. When you’re meeting with other people in business, take a moment to reconnect with the reasons you chose your path. Share stories or moments that reignite your love for your work. Not only can this remind you of your purpose, but that positivity and passion can render you more memorable to those you interact with.
Better yet, there’s evidence that loving what you do may correlate with better performance and greater productivity. In fact, one study found that entrepreneurs who were passionate about their venture were more likely to see business growth – with passion as a motivational source leading to better decision-making and persistence, and, ultimately, success.
The Bottom Line
In business, as in life, early impressions matter. Some encounters are forgotten before the work day is even over. Others stick with us. The people who stick are the ones who spring to mind when we have a question pertaining to their field of expertise, or if they have a product that can solve our problem. By simply investing a little energy into making sure we present ourselves in a memorable way, we can be those sought-after people.
A version of this article was originally published on February 10, 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
