When you are starting a business, separating yourself from your business is important. You need to be able to think about the work that you do separately from what your company does.
It can be difficult at times when you are working with a team of people who are all trying to make the company successful. It is important to be able to think of yourself as an individual and not just as someone who works for a company.
One way that this can be done is by having clear ideas about what success means for you as an individual, and then implementing those ideas into your work.
Achieving a Healthy Divide: How to Separate Yourself from Your Business
You are not your business. As much as personal branding is prominent, there must some degree of separation between you and your professional life. On your professional platform, at your workstation, or any place where you will be seen as a representative of your business, you need to reflect the views and values of your company.
The problem with being too involved as the face of your business is that your public persona will always be under scrutiny. There are many benefits to separating yourself from your business. Learn what they are and why you might want to take the leap.
To properly differentiate your personal life from your professional life, you need to create strong boundaries. This will start with your public persona.
If you were to start with your private life and then work your way to your outer circle, you are first presented with details about your personal life. Instead, by working your way in, you will focus on what you want to be seen as opposed to what you want to hide. This simple train of thought can make creating a division much more pleasant.
Social Media and Online Presence: Upholding Company Values While Separating Yourself
Your social media accounts and your general online presence needs to accommodate your company’s code of conduct and values. Similarly, you would want employees to uphold these values when they are representatives of your company, but they have a schedule to follow and after their workday ends, they are free to do as they wish.
This doesn’t apply to business owners. Here, you will be under more pressure. You can personally take the hit from any professional misfires. You should always create a separation of interests between you and your work. Otherwise, personal beliefs will be mistaken for company standards.
If you aren’t the sole owner of the business, you also have to consider how your public presence can affect your peers. Could it be a hindrance or will is it a mutual agreement to have you as the face? If your business is a team effort and your public prominence can be mistaken as taking all of the credit, then stricter boundaries need to be enforced.
In cases like that, it is much better to share those responsibilities. It is also quite absent-minded to not consider your peer’s input on these matters, even for small decisions.
Personal Branding and Separating Yourself from Business
Personal branding has been a topic growing in popularity, but there is no denying the vanity that comes attached to it. A balance between handling your ego and completing your duties is important and there is nothing carved in stone to tell anyone how to do it. Everyone creates balance differently.
An audit of yourself and your business will clear things up for you easily. This can only be done with an objective mind, so look for a just third party to help you figure out what you need to do to create boundaries that do not restrict you or your business.
FAQs
Why is it important to separate myself from my business?
Separating yourself from your business allows you to maintain a clear distinction between your personal and professional life, reduces the impact of personal beliefs on company standards, and helps you avoid potential scrutiny of your public persona.
How do I create strong boundaries between my personal and professional life?
Start by focusing on your public persona and ensuring it aligns with your company’s values. Establish clear boundaries on social media, uphold company standards, and work to differentiate your personal beliefs from those of the business.
What role does personal branding play in separating myself from my business?
Personal branding can impact how you are perceived in your professional life. While it is important to maintain a personal brand, you should strive to find a balance between your personal brand and your professional duties, ensuring that your ego doesn’t negatively impact your business.
How can I ensure my online presence upholds my company’s values?
Be mindful of your social media accounts and online interactions. Ensure that your online presence aligns with your company’s code of conduct and values, and maintain a separation of interests between you and your work.
How can I ensure that I’m not taking all the credit for a team effort?
Be open to sharing responsibilities and recognize the input of your peers. Strive to involve your team members in decision-making processes and give credit where it’s due. Additionally, consider seeking input from an objective third party to help create boundaries that benefit everyone involved.
