Protecting Your Brand After a Wrong Turn
No matter how much work you do to create your brand and tell your brand story, inevitably, there will be times when your brand takes a wrong turn. Whether it’s an unanticipated mistake or failure, a rumor that tarnishes your reputation, or the presence of haters looking to tear you down on social media, there are steps you can take to restore it after misfortunes and strengthen your brand for the future.
Let’s look at how to recover in each of these three categories:
Unintentional Mistakes
As you grow, there will be times when mistakes are made. It could be a missed deadline, a data calculation error, or something you said in a meeting that didn’t land how you intended. When you make an unintentional mistake, first and foremost, acknowledge it.
Owning up to mistakes demonstrates accountability and integrity, which will go a long way in rebuilding trust with your followers. Next, offer a sincere apology for the error and explain the lessons learned from your mistakes. Then, offer a solution to fix the error or restitution for any losses suffered.
Failures & Misses
When you fail, it doesn’t mean the end of your brand. Failing is an opportunity to learn and better prepare for the future. After a failure, assess what went wrong and why. Once you have identified any mistakes or missteps in your process, plan to avoid similar ones.
In addition to addressing the cause, use the situation to demonstrate vulnerability and relatability with your target audience. People connect with brands that are honest and open about their mistakes and missteps. When you don’t have all the answers, admit it and focus on finding solutions together.
Haters & Trolls
When it comes to haters, realize that you can’t please everyone.
While you most commonly find haters on social media, they can also be in your workplace. Haters always look to tear down your brand, so the best approach is not to engage them directly. Please don’t give them a platform to be heard, and don’t respond with negative energy.
Instead of trying to get your haters’ approval, or get them to like you, focus your energy on the positive people in your tribe. Respond to honest questions with authentic answers and thank those who provide constructive criticism for their valuable input.
Take every opportunity to build back your tribe’s trust and attract new fans to your career brand. If needed, make changes that will improve your brand culture and bring more positivity to your work.
Now that you know how to recover from everyday misfortunes and mistakes, set aside time each month to review your brand performance and assess where you can make improvements. With the right plan in place, you can create a winning career brand story that shines through any challenge that comes your way.
Moving Forward
We’ve all seen examples of brands that have taken a wrong turn and made mistakes or even failures. Every brand has had its share of bad publicity, from Pepsi to Apple and Beyoncé to Brad Pitt.
The challenge is returning from these missteps and rebuilding your brand. It takes hard work and careful strategy to recover from a significant setback, but it can be done.
Above all else, remember your brand story and stick to it. A strong brand must remain consistent and accurate to its core values, regardless of the challenge. With a solid plan and dedication to your mission, you can ensure your brand story remains resilient through any trials. So go out there and tell your career story like never before!
Stay focused on achieving your goals, and refuse to let missteps derail your dreams. With the right strategy, you can ensure your brand continues to succeed in an ever-changing world.
The world needs you and your brand story. If I can help in any way, reach out to me, and let’s work together. I’m here to help you achieve your career goals. Good luck on your journey, and keep up the good fight. Together, we can make a difference!
Your Brand Mentor and Career Strategist,
Andrea