How to Build a Powerful Leadership Brand - Bob Gentle

Super Powered: Leadership, Strategy, Decision Making & Peak Performance - Stories & Strategies from World-Class Performers for Executive Success

Ever wondered how to make people trust you before they've even met you? Bob Gentle transformed from a painfully shy local marketer into a globally-recognised personal branding expert by mastering this exact skill. His counter-intuitive approach helped him build a thriving consultancy where 95% of his clients have never even visited his home city of Glasgow.

From recording (and deleting) over 100 videos before publishing his first one to now advising multimillionaire business leaders, Bob shares how he overcame his own visibility fears. As someone who spent 15 years in search and rescue dangling from helicopters but couldn't post a selfie online, his journey proves that fear isn't about capability - it's about comfort zones.

This isn't just about building a brand - it's about understanding how people make decisions about you when you're not in the room. Bob reveals why trying to please everyone is the wrong approach, how to turn bad content into good, and why your unique perspective matters more than you think.

Key Talking Points:

• The "scaffolding of imagination" framework that helps clients know, like and trust you before meeting you
• Why showing up imperfectly beats hiding perfectly - and how one "terrible" video creator dominated his market
• The gradual desensitisation method Bob learned from search and rescue training that makes visibility less scary
• How to avoid the trap of trying to build "the unified theory of you" when starting your personal brand

Links & Resources:

• Bob's Podcast: Building Your LeaderBrand
• Website: amplifyme.agency
• LinkedIn: Bob Gentle
• Book Recommendation: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• Free Resource: Personal Brand Business Roadmap

Today's Exercise: The Captain's Log

This daily video practice helps overcome camera anxiety and builds confidence in your on-screen presence. It creates a safe space to practice without the pressure of publishing.

Steps to Apply:

1. Set up a camera (not phone) in a private space
2. Record a 2-minute diary entry about your day
3. Watch it back, no matter how uncomfortable
4. Focus on small improvements in delivery each time
5. Continue daily for at least two weeks before considering publishing
6. Notice how your comfort level increases over time