Writing your bio can feel like a dreaded chore because it can feel like you are bragging about yourself. This is a recipe for the dreaded writer’s block. Much like a resume, a bio is not thought of until it is needed and the resulting pressure to create it just adds more fuel to the fire. Here are three tips on approaching writing your bio so it doesn't feel like such an awkward task. We've included some actual bio examples at the end of the article to help you gain momentum.
1. Pretend it is Not Your Bio
Write your bio as if you are writing about someone else. Use the proper bio format of writing in the third person as a tool to get some momentum. For example, it feels a little easier to write “Rosemarie has taught Italian at the high school and university levels,” than to write in the first person.
2. View the Bio as a Tool for Connection
Concentrate on making the bio a tool of connection by answering four questions:
What do you do for a living?
How can you benefit a company?
What are your qualifications?
What should people know about you personally so they can relate to you or use what they learn from your bio as a way to “break the ice” in a conversation?
3. Decide on Formal or Nonformal Styling
Websites are common sources for bios. Thankfully, many types of bios can be found and nowadays, even newer staff members can be featured on a company’s website. Sole practitioners, like therapists, are almost always certain to have their bio on their website. Often, the tone of the bio is set by both the way an organization is structured and by the formatting of the website. A website with a section called “Team Bios” may have a more formal format than a website with a page titled, “About Us.”
Reading is believing so with prior permission, clients have given their permission to be included in this blog article. Here are a few blogs and why they are being featured:
Leader of an organization, formal: Roger Ferguson, President.
Sole practitioner, informal: Mary Jane Carlin, Ph.D.
Young professional, interesting information: Colleen Lane, Geologist.
All in all, try to write your bio with a clear head and use it as a tool for connection. Spend no more than an hour on the first draft. Take a break and leave your desk physically for at least 10 minutes, return, and make final corrections.
If you need any assistance, contact us at g@g3creativity.com.