6 powerful exercises to shape a brand identity that feels truly authentic

From the Personal Branding Blog

I remember standing in front of a mirror, trying to pin down what I wanted to show the world. 

I was juggling different impressions—professional, fun, empathetic—and I felt torn between them all. 

After a while, I realized that my personal brand wasn’t about perfection. Instead, it was about letting my core values and quirks shine through. That’s when I finally started to feel at ease with who I was.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to sculpt a polished image that still feels genuine, you’re in good company. 

There’s a real art to shaping a brand identity that doesn’t feel forced. Below, I’ll share seven practical approaches to help you shape a brand voice that feels truly authentic. 

Let’s dive in.

1. Define your core values

One of the easiest ways to spot authenticity is through shared values. It’s hard to fake what you hold dear, and it’s also hard to dismiss it once you’ve acknowledged it. ‘

A few years ago, I started writing down values that guided my day-to-day decisions. Values like honesty, warmth, and curiosity made it onto my list. 

That quick exercise helped me see why certain aspects of my work felt rewarding while others felt draining.

Try taking a few quiet minutes to think about the values you simply can’t live without. Maybe you thrive on creativity or you’re motivated by a desire to help others. 

Write them down, and then look for ways those values already appear in what you do—your job, your online presence, your personal relationships. 

This list becomes your lighthouse, guiding you as you refine how you show up in the world.

2. Craft a personal origin story

I used to think that stories were reserved for fairy tales and big-screen heroes. Then I realized that we all have a unique journey that shapes who we are. 

Your personal origin story is that special narrative that offers a glimpse into why you do what you do. It has twists, turns, lessons, and triumphs that give depth to your brand.

The best way to uncover your story is to jot down pivotal moments from your life. 

These can be big events—like a career shift—or smaller moments, like a teacher’s encouraging words that lit a fire inside you. 

Then ask yourself: what did these moments teach me about who I am? 

Brené Brown often talks about the power of vulnerability in sharing personal stories. Embracing the less polished parts of your history will help you build a brand identity that resonates because it’s grounded in real life experiences.

3. Pinpoint your unique skills

If you’re anything like me, you might occasionally overlook your own strengths. 

I remember a mentor once telling me, “Ryan, you’re great at spotting what people don’t say.” 

I had never considered that a skill—it was just something I did naturally. But once I recognized it, I leaned into it and wove it into my coaching approach.

Spend some time examining the things you do well, especially the skills that feel second nature. 

You might be a whiz at visual design, or maybe your strength lies in uplifting others with your words. 

Check in with friends, family, or trusted colleagues, and see if they notice skills you never even thought about. 

This external feedback can be surprisingly eye-opening. After all, we’re not always the best judges of our own abilities. 

By actively seeking insights from others, you uncover hidden gems in your skill set. Those gems can then become a cornerstone of your brand identity.

4. Explore your brand persona

Sometimes, the hardest part about personal branding is deciding how to consistently present yourself. 

Take a cue from established brands—many of them develop a defined “persona” or archetype that guides their messaging. 

In my earlier days of marketing, I worked with companies that assigned traits like “adventurous, tech-savvy, approachable” to maintain a unified brand voice. 

Translating that to a personal brand involves selecting attributes that reflect who you are at your core.

If you’re aiming to convey an air of calm expertise, imagine how that would shape your social media posts or your business emails. 

Would you incorporate humor? Would you use more visuals or more detailed case studies? 

Try to create a quick reference sheet for yourself: list three or four words that define your brand’s persona. 

Then, whenever you write a blog post, craft a social media update, or interact with clients, revisit those words and see if your actions match them. 

Keeping a persona in mind ensures that you come across as cohesive while staying true to your values.

5. Experiment with your brand voice

I used to worry about whether my writing sounded “professional enough.” 

Eventually, I realized that letting my natural voice come through—casual phrases, personal anecdotes, a dash of humor—was a more genuine approach. 

Nowadays, I still keep an eye on clarity and tone, but I’ve learned to trust my instincts. 

When your words match your actual personality, you create trust faster.

A good exercise is to experiment with different writing styles. 

You can write one paragraph in a formal tone, then rewrite the same paragraph in a casual, friendly tone. Compare the two, and decide which resonates with you more. 

You can even share these paragraphs with a colleague or close friend and ask for their reaction. 

The goal is to strike a balance: your message should be clear, but it should also feel like it’s coming from the real you.

6. Maintain consistency over time

Shaping a brand identity isn’t a one-time deal. It evolves, just like we evolve as individuals. 

Early in my career, I was all about hustle and ambition. Over time, my priorities shifted toward balance and mindful living. 

That evolution showed up in my brand, and I had to ensure that new values, new goals, and new lessons carried through everything I did.

Consistency is about making sure your social media posts, presentations, and even informal chats reflect the brand identity you’ve nurtured. 

Simon Sinek often says that people don’t just buy what you do—they buy why you do it. 

If your purpose changes, or your circumstances shift, give yourself permission to adjust. Just do it with intention. 

Look at your brand materials, your website, or even your business cards from time to time, and check if they still reflect who you are now. 

Authentic branding means you’re always in tune with your current self.

Wrapping up

I’ve come to see personal branding as a living, breathing entity, shaped not by perfect strategies but by genuine self-discovery. 

Each exercise nudges you a little closer to an identity that feels natural and resonates with the people who truly matter to you. 

When you show up as yourself, people can sense it. And that’s where the real power of authenticity lies.

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