Most businesses understand the importance of marketing and building the company’s brand in the marketplace. Generally, the more positive goodwill you’ve built in the marketplace, the more successful your business is. Often times, reputation or branding is the main reason we choose to do business with a company - over price, service, and many other factors. It takes years to build a solid reputation. But it only takes one second, or one mistake, to destroy it. If you need evidence of that, look at Enron, and any number of other similar companies. Interestingly, the same is true about building our own individual brands. Every time we walk down the hall at our office, or have an interaction with a co-worker, we are building our brands. Every interaction is an opportunity to build a positive reputation. Unfortunately, it is also a chance to fail at it. We don’t get to choose when we want to be “on.” We must realize that we are “on” all the time. No matter what is going on in our lives, or at the office, the way we carry ourselves and treat others is ultimately what are known for.

Think about the top 3 qualities you would want to be known for and try to focus on making sure you consistently display behavior that reinforces those qualities. If you can’t decide what 3 things to focus on, think about what the 3 biggest character insults would be to you – could it be integrity, honestly, accountability…? Whatever they are, that is likely your natural brand.

To further develop your brand, acknowledge that your opportunities to reinforce them are endless, and be mindful of when you are not being consistent with them. What is your brand saying about you?

You can access additional information on our Brand Protection Strategies and Resources page.

The Culture Counts blog is a discussion of law firm culture and legal innovation, including topics such as effective leadership, employee engagement, workplace culture, ideal work environment, company core values, and workplace productivity.  

Sign up for and explore our content and thought leadership here.

About the Firm:

Klemchuk LLP is a litigation, intellectual property, transactional, and international business law firm dedicated to protecting innovation. The firm provides tailored legal solutions to industries including software, technology, retail, real estate, consumer goods, ecommerce, telecommunications, restaurant, energy, media, and professional services. The firm focuses on serving mid-market companies seeking long-term, value-added relationships with a law firm. Learn more about experiencing law practiced differently and our local counsel practice.

The firm publishes Intellectual Property Trends (latest developments in IP law), Conversations with Innovators (interviews with thought leaders), Leaders in Law (insights from law leaders), Culture Counts (thoughts on law firm culture and business), and Legal Insights (in-depth analysis of IP, litigation, and transactional law).