The definition
A positioning statement fixes your place in people's minds in a few words. It is not a tagline. It is the internal reference that keeps your biography, profile and introductions consistent.
A simple template
For [who you help], I am the [role] who [what you do], because [why you are credible]. People should feel [three words].
- Keep it to one or two sentences.
- Use words you would say aloud.
- Test it on someone outside your field.
Where it is used
The statement is rarely published word for word. It feeds your profile headline, the first lines of your biography, the way you introduce yourself in a meeting and the filter you apply before you publish anything. If a piece of content cannot be traced back to it, ask whether it belongs.
An illustrative example
For hospital boards in the region, I am the governance adviser who makes complex risk decisions easy to follow, because I have sat on both sides of the table. People should feel steady, clear and informed. This is a made-up example showing the form, not a real person's statement.
Common mistakes
- Using empty adjectives instead of specifics.
- Trying to speak to everyone.
- Writing it once and never using it.
- Treating it as a slogan for the public rather than a reference for you.
How Rise Personal uses the term
Our Blueprint puts your positioning in writing. It sets out who you are in a few sentences, the message you want people to repeat, your three words, the rooms and channels that fit and the order in which we work. You can take the Blueprint and do the rest yourself.
Questions people ask
Is a positioning statement public?
Usually not. It is the reference behind public text.
How long should it be?
One or two sentences.
How often should I revise it?
When your role, audience or direction changes.