What is your current brand?

Your personal brand may or may not be clear to you. Your current brand can help or hinder the career ambitions that you hold. What I always have believed to be the litmus test for your personal brand is to find out the following: What do people say about me when I am not in the room? Like it or not, that is your personal brand.

There is no right or wrong brand. There are different types of CIOs and large variations in CISOs. However, your brand will be a constraining force that could cause friction against your ambitions. Do some analysis by writing down on a blank sheet of paper the attributes that you think others would say you have. These will be, by nature, both positive and – dare I say – negative traits. The following are examples of some positive traits of mine:

Figure 1.1 – David’s brand

Once you have drafted what you believe are your qualities, this can be tested by asking your colleagues...