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419 - Why Most CEOs Are Afraid to Build a Personal Brand (But Shouldn’t Be)
Why Most CEOs Are Afraid to Build a Personal Brand (But Shouldn’t Be)
For decades, CEOs were expected to stay in the background, letting their companies take the spotlight. But in today’s digital, trust-driven world, the rules have changed.
People don’t just follow brands—they follow leaders. If you’re running a business and not actively building your personal brand, you’re not just staying in the shadows… you’re losing opportunities.
So why do so many CEOs resist putting themselves out there? Fear.
The Fear That’s Holding You Back
Many CEOs hesitate to build a personal brand because they worry about:
• Judgment: “What if I say the wrong thing?”
• Perception: “Will I seem unprofessional?”
• Time Commitment: “I’m too busy running a business.”
These concerns are valid—but they’re also outdated.
We are no longer in the 90s, where CEOs were expected to be polished, robotic figures delivering safe PR-approved messages. We are in the human era. Customers, employees, and stakeholders want to connect with real people—not corporate scripts.
Your Brand is Your Company’s Best Asset
If you’re leading a 5,000-person company, people are already curious about you. They want to know your vision, your leadership style, your perspective.
And here’s the key: If people care about you, they will care more about your company.
Think of leaders like Elon Musk, Richard Branson, or Sara Blakely. Their businesses thrive, in part, because of the personal trust and relatability they’ve built with their audience.
How to Start Without Overwhelming Yourself
If you’re new to personal branding, you don’t need to start by sharing everything about your life. Instead, follow these simple steps:
✅ Start Small: Share an insight about leadership, innovation, or your industry.
✅ Show Behind the Scenes: Give a glimpse into how you think and work.
✅ Engage Authentically: Respond to comments and join conversations.
✅ Be Consistent: A strong brand is built over time—just like your business.
The biggest risk isn’t putting yourself out there—it’s staying silent while other leaders build trust, influence, and opportunities.
It’s time to embrace your voice and step up as the face of your company.
Highlights:
00:00 Overcoming the Fear of Judgment
00:04 The Importance of Personal Connection
00:14 The Shift from Traditional PR
00:30 Embracing Human-Centric Leadership
00:40 Steps to Humanize Your Company
Links:
===========================
Equipment and Software that I use for my Videos and Podcasts!
Jens Equipment and Software overview: https://www.jensheitland.com/equipment
===========================
Here are the ways to work with me:
Speaking: https://www.jensheitland.com/speaking
Leadership Skills Assessment: https://www.wearesucceed.com/
===========================
Connect with me!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensheitland/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JensHeitlandofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jensheitland/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jensheitland
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jensheitland
Newsletter: https://www.jensheitland.com/newsletter
Transcript:
Fear of judgment is costing you millions. Here is how to get over it. Nobody really cares about the company if they don't care about you. If you're a 5, 000 people company and the CEO, then people care about you. They want to know more about you. And if you don't share anything, work with the normal way of PR, which is.
de risking everything and not showing up in the wrong way, you're losing a lot of opportunity. We are not in the 90s anymore, where everything is about business and you need to show up in a certain way. We are in a human time, where people love to connect to the individuals and see more of you from behind the scenes.
So try it with a couple of easy steps. People love companies that are led by humans. and not robots. So you have the opportunity to change the game by showing yourself in a human way.
View all episodes
Why Most CEOs Are Afraid to Build a Personal Brand (But Shouldn’t Be)
For decades, CEOs were expected to stay in the background, letting their companies take the spotlight. But in today’s digital, trust-driven world, the rules have changed.
People don’t just follow brands—they follow leaders. If you’re running a business and not actively building your personal brand, you’re not just staying in the shadows… you’re losing opportunities.
So why do so many CEOs resist putting themselves out there? Fear.
The Fear That’s Holding You Back
Many CEOs hesitate to build a personal brand because they worry about:
• Judgment: “What if I say the wrong thing?”
• Perception: “Will I seem unprofessional?”
• Time Commitment: “I’m too busy running a business.”
These concerns are valid—but they’re also outdated.
We are no longer in the 90s, where CEOs were expected to be polished, robotic figures delivering safe PR-approved messages. We are in the human era. Customers, employees, and stakeholders want to connect with real people—not corporate scripts.
Your Brand is Your Company’s Best Asset
If you’re leading a 5,000-person company, people are already curious about you. They want to know your vision, your leadership style, your perspective.
And here’s the key: If people care about you, they will care more about your company.
Think of leaders like Elon Musk, Richard Branson, or Sara Blakely. Their businesses thrive, in part, because of the personal trust and relatability they’ve built with their audience.
How to Start Without Overwhelming Yourself
If you’re new to personal branding, you don’t need to start by sharing everything about your life. Instead, follow these simple steps:
✅ Start Small: Share an insight about leadership, innovation, or your industry.
✅ Show Behind the Scenes: Give a glimpse into how you think and work.
✅ Engage Authentically: Respond to comments and join conversations.
✅ Be Consistent: A strong brand is built over time—just like your business.
The biggest risk isn’t putting yourself out there—it’s staying silent while other leaders build trust, influence, and opportunities.
It’s time to embrace your voice and step up as the face of your company.
Highlights:
00:00 Overcoming the Fear of Judgment
00:04 The Importance of Personal Connection
00:14 The Shift from Traditional PR
00:30 Embracing Human-Centric Leadership
00:40 Steps to Humanize Your Company
Links:
===========================
Equipment and Software that I use for my Videos and Podcasts!
Jens Equipment and Software overview: https://www.jensheitland.com/equipment
===========================
Here are the ways to work with me:
Speaking: https://www.jensheitland.com/speaking
Leadership Skills Assessment: https://www.wearesucceed.com/
===========================
Connect with me!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensheitland/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JensHeitlandofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jensheitland/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jensheitland
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jensheitland
Newsletter: https://www.jensheitland.com/newsletter
Transcript:
Fear of judgment is costing you millions. Here is how to get over it. Nobody really cares about the company if they don't care about you. If you're a 5, 000 people company and the CEO, then people care about you. They want to know more about you. And if you don't share anything, work with the normal way of PR, which is.
de risking everything and not showing up in the wrong way, you're losing a lot of opportunity. We are not in the 90s anymore, where everything is about business and you need to show up in a certain way. We are in a human time, where people love to connect to the individuals and see more of you from behind the scenes.
So try it with a couple of easy steps. People love companies that are led by humans. and not robots. So you have the opportunity to change the game by showing yourself in a human way.