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December 2020 : The Art of Hello™ — YOUR Professional Branding

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By Sandra Mohr, OWA Communications Committee
The Art of Hello

Hello, my name is Sandra Mohr and I find practical ways of advancing impactful learning in all of us! I love my job as the Dean of Academic Resources and Administration at the New England College of Optometry; however, using my title as my introduction does not help people understand what I do in my role or areas that I passionately work on daily. Instead, leading with my professional brand helps me to stand out from others, encourages people to ask questions, and be curious enough to learn more.

As part of the 2020 Elevate event, the Optical Women's Association (OWA) invited Paula Calise to share ideas on how you can create a professional introduction (The Art of Hello™) which can take you from ordinary to memorable. Your introduction should not be about your list of accomplishments, but a way to connect with your audience on something that may interest them around who you are and what makes you unique.

Many of us have worked on elevator pitches where we share key personal items in a variety of arenas. Pitches are 30 seconds or less. In our fast-paced world, creating a short, crisp, and memorable introduction can be far more impactful when trying to make an initial connection with others.

When you introduce yourself, use that as an opportunity to be remembered in a noisy world. Your introduction helps distill how you are known in your professional life into something that is meaningful, authentic, differentiates you, and is memorable. When you do your art of hello right, it is your brand promise.

Once you have defined your professional brand, the next step is to create pillars to help support your brand. This is where you can share credentials and successes. Target the messaging to the audience you are speaking to.

If becoming more memorable is part of your 2021 goals, work on crafting your introduction and creating pillars to support the introduction. Practice with friends, coworkers, and family and ask for feedback to ensure that your professional branding represents you and you can comfortably share with others. Adapt and adjust as necessary to help you become memorable!

If you missed the event, you are able to view the Master The Art of Hello™ recording on the OWA YouTube channel.

You can also use Paula's professional branding handout to help you create your introduction and pillars.

What is your "Art of Hello"?

About the Author

Sandra has over 20 years of leadership experience within higher education where she has found practical ways of advancing impactful learning in all of us. She is a passionate leader who helps develop a culture where teams work collaboratively focusing on a shared mission. Sandra is the Dean of Academic Resources and Administration at New England College of Optometry. Outside of work, Sandra is actively engaged in the community on non-profit boards, actively mentors women, and is invited to speak on the topics of increasing reliance and learning to create successful workplace cultures.

Within the OWA, Sandra hosts the OWA Talks Podcast with Stephanie Espinosa where she engages with members and leaders within the optical profession. Sandra is active in both the Connection & Enrichment Committee and the Communications & Website Design Committee.





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