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Why Every Professional Needs a Well Written Bio

By Alonia Jernigan

Every professional needs a well-written bio.  As you embark upon new (or even routine) endeavors, chances are you do so with the intention of achieving success.  When that success comes, others will notice, and eventually the need will arise to acknowledge you. 

This acknowledgement may present itself in many forms to include:

·        An award nomination

·        Inclusion in a publication

·        Recommendation to serve on a board or committee

·        An invitation to speak on a topic of your expertise, etc. 

Your bio can also be used when being considered for a promotion.  Many social networks also request that you post biographical information, even if it is nominal. 

The last thing you want to do in either instance is scramble for a bio.  Why? Because you will probably end up simply “throwing something together.”  Reacting in this manner only robs you of projecting the absolute best presentation of your accomplishments.  You must remember that the ball is in your court: only you have the power to make a lasting impression of who you are, and your written communiqué is a fine tool to do just that. 

Here are five tips to help create a well-written bio:

(1)    Know thy self – It’s very important that you know who you are.  That may sound a little insulting, but you’ll be surprised to know the number of people who become so preoccupied with work and daily life that they take themselves and their accomplishments for granted.  Don’t do that to yourself.  You have to believe that you are special, and then you have to let others know as well.  Some people shy away from this because they say it makes them feel self-serving; they feel as if they’re bragging.  If you feel that way, just remember the old adage that says, “It’s a poor dog that won’t wag its own tail.”  Don’t be a poor dog.

(2)    Get a second opinion – If the first tip still has you a little bashful in assuring that everything about you that needs to be captured in your bio is actually captured, get a second opinion.  Those who know your work ethic, either from a personal or professional standpoint, can help you determine if what you’ve gathered is an adequate and accurate reflection of who you are.  You should understand that people are more prone to conduct business with other people whom they feel they know or whom they feel they can make a connection.  Sharing small details about who you are helps open the door for the business relationships you may be seeking.

(3)    Make it exciting – I often flinch when I read biographical profiles that don’t capture the true essence of what I know lies within a person.  I never get a thrill out of reading, “Joe Blow lived.  Joe Blow died.”  How dull?  Certainly, Mr. Blow’s life had more to it than that!  Your bio should be candid yet captivating, informative yet interesting. Choose words that help paint a vibrant picture of who you are.  Of course, there are limitations, and many people prefer to a conservative, corporate approach.  At the same time, though, ask yourself this question, “With whom would this potential business relationship rather do work with:  Ms. Warm and Wonderful or Mr. Plain and Simple?” 

(4)    Follow the rules of grammar – Oh, how easy it is to use the computer’s spell check feature.  It’s as simple as 1-2-3, but what about words that may have been left out?  What about words that aren’t misspelled but mistyped?  Consider instances when you used the word “at” but you really meant to write “as.”  Likewise, you could easily make the same mistake when trying to use “live” but you typed “love.”  Far too many mistakes are often overlooked simply because one chose to totally rely on spell check or because they refused to proofread at all. This could be a very costly mistake.  Always ask yourself if you can afford it.

(5)    Tell the truth – Everyone wants to sound like the well polished professional that they believe to have become.  And that’s just fine.  In the process, however, make sure you don’t stretch the truth.  Falsifying information is just like trouble:  easy to get into but oh so difficult to get out of.  You can easily fabricate things to make yourself sound good.  But in the event that the accounts given are not true, you put a great dampening on your credibility, your reputation and your integrity.  Keep in mind that you only get one time to make a first impression.  To that end, do all that you can to assure that your first impression is a lasting impression with a positive impact.

©2009 – The Effective Communicator.  All rights reserved.

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