Presence Shapes Your Professional Reputation: Personal Branding for AMINZ Members and Dispute Resolution Professionals
While we may understand the importance of shaping our brand and public perception, for many it can feel too much like ‘self-promotion’. AMINZ Executive Director Monique Pearson provides practical insights into branding for dispute resolution professionals – including small, actionable steps you can take now to strengthen your presence and, importantly, ensure your information is up to date.
You already have a brand. Is it working for you?
We rarely talk about personal branding in dispute resolution. For many, it feels too commercial, or image driven. But your brand isn’t a logo or a tagline. It’s your presence – your reputation in action. It’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room.
Whether you’re a mediator, arbitrator, adjudicator or facilitator, your reputation travels ahead of you. It shapes how you are introduced, how you are trusted and how work finds you.
The reality is you already have a brand. The question is whether it reflects the work you want to do today and the values you want to be known for.
It’s not about flash. It’s about focus.
Some practitioners have highly polished websites. Others are known almost entirely by word of mouth. Some use social platforms to share insights, while others quietly build respect through networks, panels and steady contribution.
There’s no one right way to show up. But what cuts through is clarity.
Think of someone whose reputation you admire. Maybe it’s a rural mediator with deep roots in the farming community. A construction adjudicator who understands the realities on-site. A family dispute resolution specialist known for calm and cultural safety.
These practitioners aren’t remembered because of slick marketing. They’re remembered because people understand what they do, how they do it and why it works.
That’s presence.
Visibility supports credibility.
At AMINZ, the Find a Professional directory on the website receives a lot of visitor traffic from people who are looking for the right fit for a dispute. One of the first places they check is the online directory.
That’s why we encourage every member to keep their profile up to date. This isn’t about self-promotion. It’s about ensuring the information people rely on is current and credible.
Ask yourself:
Does my AMINZ profile reflect the kind of work I’m doing now?
Are my contact details correct and easy to find?
Is my photo recent and professional?
Am I clearly articulating my practice areas?
Small updates like these can help the right opportunities find their way to you.
What do you want to be known for?
People remember professionals who are consistent in how they present themselves, in what they contribute and in what they stand for.
If someone had to introduce you today, what would you want them to say?
It might be:
"They’re a specialist in lease disputes for small businesses."
"They facilitate multi-party construction disputes with calm and efficiency."
"They bring a deep understanding of tikanga to their mediation work."
This isn’t about creating a slogan. It’s about being clear. So that when opportunities arise, whether through panels, referrals or direct contact, people know what you do and when to call on you.
Presence grows through participation.
Being present in the AMINZ community doesn’t require a big stage. Some of the most respected practitioners are those who show up regularly, contribute thoughtfully and help others develop.
If you’re an experienced practitioner, consider mentoring a newer practitioner. Share your story at a network event. Publish a short reflection in Kōrero. Offer your perspectives on a panel.
These are generous acts. They also strengthen our collective professional culture and quietly build your visibility.
Tools are fine. Your voice is better.
AI tools can help organise thoughts or draft ideas, and when used transparently, they are just another part of the toolkit. But what builds trust is your unique voice, your lived experience, your reasoning, your tone.
If you’re writing for publication or public sharing, AMINZ encourages transparency about tool use. Integrity is part of our brand too.
Building your profile is important. But how you use it matters more.
When you maintain an up-to-date AMINZ profile, engage in professional conversations and support others to grow, you’re contributing to a more visible, trusted and connected sector.
You’re also modelling what credibility and contribution look like for the next generation.
Ready to take one small step?
Your presence already speaks for you. Make sure it says what you want it to.
Log in to your AMINZ member profile and make one update today, whether it’s your photo, a practice area, or your contact details. Every small update helps the right work find its way to you.
