Two recent events have made me think of branding more intently. And I believe I have made a clear conclusion for myself on the question of “What is a brand?” especially in the context of a Learning and Development (L&D) practitioner.

Let me relate these two events as best as I can.

The first incident didn’t happen to me but to my partner, Yasmin. Recently, we have been busy recruiting trainers, facilitators and training assistants for a a roll out of our financial literacy program for kids. This year has been exceptionally challenging because of the 50% increase in the numbers of schools involved. Previous years have been a blessing because our faculty was enough to support the roll out. We had senior coaches, experienced trainers and well established facilitators coming in to play various roles.

It so happened that this year, the need for more faculty has led us to be exposed to new L&D talents of various background, expertise, competency and experience.

Interesting enough, a few of them are at par to our existing faculty while some are still growing in stature. However, two things that are common in all of them is the desire to learn and contribute to the nation. This requires a deep sense of humbleness and hunger to grow. Two very important characteristic of an L&D practitioner.

What prompted this journey of reflection was an incident where a trainer that initially agreed to participate decided to withdraw because she feels the work that she will be doing will spoil her branding. I am unsure of her branding since I am not familiar with her but what for the life of me, I can’t imagine supporting another trainer to set-up the room, play music, facilitating discussion with the 10–12-year-olds, be a game master, carrying supplies can ever spoil a trainer’s branding.

In fact, I believe, the contrary will happen. There is no shame or beneath someone doing the simple and mundane. In fact, the willingness to support another fellow practitioner is commendable. Personally, I have always enjoyed supporting trainers doing support work because that was how I started. It brings back memories as well as being in a state of full contribution is awesome.

The other event that also coincidently provided me with the same conclusion was my own recent experience of being assessed on my delivery. This is by a new client. At first, when the request for me to deliver a mock training in front of a few assessors was made, I must say I was taken a back. At the same time, I observed that there as a sense of uneasiness with being evaluated. This was an automatic feeling I had. Upon pausing and reflecting, I realised that my ego was the one that was uneasy. Logic and sentiments dictate this request being a more than fair request seeing that I am new to them and that the daily rate I quoted is a five figure one. However, even with these overwhelming factors, I still felt slighted for being called to be assessed. This was how it dawned on me that I have taken without being fully aware and deliberate, the high ground of snootiness!!!

So what, that I have been delivering the last 2 and a half decade? Who cares especially if I am new to someone?

So what, that my rate is way about and more than double that of the standard market rate? To think of it, I need to proof even more that I can truly deliver if my rate is such.

So what, that I have under my belt various certification in a various role in L&D such as facilitation, design, coaching etc. Big deal! All that is in paper. The main thing is, can I demonstrate all that in real life?

So what, that I have a 12 year old L&D consultancy? Can I still deliver or not is still pertinent.

So what, that I train other trainers and that in my life time, so far, I have trained more than 4000 trainers nation and regional wide, certify coaches and facilitators? If so, why be afraid to do a mock training? Seem only fair since I do put my coaches, Trainers-in-training, and facilitators through the same type of assessment.

In a nutshell, rather than being taken a back, I should rejoice that I have an opportunity to be humbled and allowed to learn once again on what is important to me.

So there I was, preparing like a new kid on the block, feeling nervous like a first time trainer at his very first training, practicing like my life depended on it and all along feeling nervous and yet ALIVE!!!!

Yes, I did humble myself to deliver the mock-up training, enjoyed the whole experience, and at the end refreshed me.

I learned a lot doing my After-Action Review (AAR) and made me all that more in gratitude for the chance to sharpen the dullness of my delivery. It is like a reset for me. I am now waiting anxiously on my feedback and the result of the assessment so that I can improve.

After the mock delivery, I was interviewed by four of the organization’s inner assessors in various topics such as methodology, learning impact, design considerations etc. I was grilled with tough relevant insightful questions. I thoroughly enjoyed the viva.

Through that encounter, I realised that branding is nothing more and nothing less but my character. My character is my branding, and this can be as obvious as a logo because our character is manifested in our behaviours and what we communicate. The set of actions we take and the way we articulate our thoughts are all windows to our character. And these brands us.

Therefore, how we act and how we speak is already our brand. Our response to situations and our speech surrounding those situations is a clear message of who we are; OUR BRAND.

To those that feels menial work as a training assistant unworthy of you because others do it for you, please think twice. The fear that your branding will be tarnished by menial works, has just came through, a self-fulfilling prophecy. There is nothing to lose in being humble. It is in fact a potent branding to have.