Take control of your personal brand by showing up

If PR pros want to be seen, trusted and promoted, they need to build their own visibility and brand with greater intention.

“Your reputation isn’t what you intend, it’s how people see you when you’re not in the room,” Lorraine K. Lee, founder of RISE Learning Solutions, said during Ragan’s 2025 Future of Communications Conference.

These steps can help professionals boost their visibility and reputation over time.

Your personal brand already exists whether you realize it or not, Lee said. The problem is most people don’t check to see if their own self-perception lines up with how their coworkers view them.

Ask your colleagues how they see you. You could ask what your greatest strengths are or how other people describe you. This should give you feedback about how you’re perceived, she said.

“Then decide how you want to change that perception,” she said.

Define specific actions or ask for help to close the gap. Never be defensive when receiving feedback. Rather, ask how you can move toward your goal.