How to Brag without being a Braggart
If the right people don’t know about your work your work doesn’t matter. It may be important. It may be valuable. But, you’ll never get ahead if those over you don’t know your value and accomplishments.
Keeping your head down and working hard
keeps you down and lets others take credit.
Self-promotion:
Self-promotion isn’t a dirty word. “It’s not bragging if you can back it up,” Muhammad Ali. (From Getting Ahead) Self-promotion done well is so powerful that even those who haven’t performed get ahead, for a while. I’m not promoting empty self-promotion – just saying it works!
The tip that keeps on giving:
Joel Garfinkle offers bucket loads of useful ideas on self-promotion in Getting Ahead. My favorite is keeping track of your accomplishments. You may be the type that does more – takes on more responsibility – but forgets all you’ve done. Record your achievements every week. “The tracking process itself will give you confidence,” Garfinkle.
Track:
- Business results.
- The value you’ve provided.
- Fact-based, concrete details.
- Specific feedback you’ve received.
- Quantifiable data – measure your impact.
Joel Garfinkle offers a three-step promotion plan. Here is a sampling:
#1. Self-Promote:
- Share wins with management.
- Communicate success stories.
- Credit others.
#2. Promote others: When your team does well, you do well.
- Praise them to their boss.
- Enhance their visibility.
- Position them for leadership.
- Inform others of team success.
#3. Others promote you: They must appreciate what you’ve done.
- Peers acknowledge your value – which is more likely if you’ve promoted them.
- Boss shares your success.
- Clients/vendors offer testimonials.
Bonus:
Joel says, “If you’re uncomfortable sharing your accomplishments, practice with someone.” You enhance your impact when others know your talents and achievements.
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I’m uncomfortable with this topic but realize that we can’t increase our impact if others don’t know what we can do.
What tips can you offer for successful self-promotion?
What are the dangers? How do you overcome them?
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Added resources:
Five Ways to Master Office Politics – “Office politics is not a dirty word. You’ll go further if you can play.”
How to Toot Your Own Horn – “Don’t think it doesn’t matter who gets the credit, it does.”
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Highly recommended read:
Excellent advice. If you want to be danced with, go to the dance! 🙂
Thank you Stuartart. 🙂
Dan, the timing of this post is perfect! I was just thinking about how much I struggle with self-promotion because I’ve always seen it done so poorly. I wanted to think of ways to go about it that felt comfortable and authentic and you helped me do that. I was one of those people that have done so many things and worked on so many projects but when I’m asked what I’ve done, I cannot think of a single thing. I failed to realize that all of my hard work doesn’t matter if no one knows about it.
To add to your suggestion about keeping track of your progress, doing so reminds you that the work you’ve done is valuable and builds the confidence that better helps you to promote yourself to others.
Thanks for helping me get started!
Hi Priscialla,
Awesome comment. Thank you for sharing your story.
I think you are right, self-promotion is frequently done wrong. I wish you the best in your self-promotion…sounds funny doesn’t??
Cheers,
Dan
Hi Dan,
I love the idea of routinely keeping track of your accomplishments. Good advice. Busy people always forget all they have done.
I put high school students through mock job interviews in front of their peers. They hated it, but later they would come back and tell me how valuable it was for them. When I would ask, “What is your greatest strength?” or “Describe an accomplishment you are proud of.” they would say to me, “Isn’t that bragging?”
If they were really uncomfortable with it, I would tell them to say it in someone else’s words.
“My coach always said he liked the way I was a team player.”
or
“My English teacher told me she always loved reading what I wrote, so I suppose I am a strong writer.”
Somehow that made it easier for teens to brag about themselves.
Adults can do the same. “One of the best compliments I ever received was when so and so said such and sucn about me.
But we’ve all worked with the person who constantly sends in articles to the newspaper promoting themselves or is forever taking credit for something someone else did. I never could figure out a way to deal with that. I think we just have to hope that before long everyone else will also be victimized by the false braggart and figure them out for themselves. In the meantime, it is uber-annoying.
Dauna Easley
Dauna,
Wow! Love your suggestion of using someone else’s words. Brilliant!
I’m thankful you stopped in today to share your insights.
Cheers,
Dan
Excellent advice! It is a skill not practiced enough! Thanks Dan!
Thank you Debbie. Best, Dan
I like the idea of tracking accomplishments. Not just because it will help you to remember what you’ve done but also because it might give you the confidence to realize how much you have actually done.
Hi Bonnie,
Thank you for joining in again today. I value your insights and encouragement.
Here’s another suggestion Garfinkle offers… Your list is great when it comes performance reveiw time. YOu know how we forget the great stuff we’ve done.
Cheers,
Dan
Love, love, Dan! Self-promotion is so hard because no-one likes to be thought of as a braggart. I like Ali’s point – it’s not bragging if you can back it up, and I’ve found it hugely encouraging to make note of my achievements, whether publically or just to myself. It’s all too easy to say ‘well, anyone could have done that,’ but the fact that I’ve done it is really amazing. I’ve achieved a lot this year already and I’m starting to get used to acknowledging my achievements. It’s a great feeling 🙂
Hi Vanessa,
Thank you for sharing your story. In the end, reluctance to share your talent and accomplishments hinders everyone involved… ourselves, our organizations, and our customers.
It’s not useful if others don’t know the value we bring.
Best,
Dan
Success is such a powerful tool! For myself, I have learned that even if management doesn’t recognize the efforts I put forth, my clients do. It is amazing that one kind word can deflate are arsenal of negative.
For myself, I keep track of everything I do and compare to the previous months and years. It allows me to know exactly what I am doing as well as motivates me to strive to be better. For this, I am almost bragging to myself which I realize is all intrinsic, but for me it is a motivational factor.
Todd,
I love “bragging to myself.” Powerful idea. Only you know the real amount of work, energy, and effort that went into your last achievement. Celebrate it!
It’s amazing how awkward that can feel but when we get used to it, like you indicate, its motivational.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Cheers,
Dan
A number of years ago I observed as a Fortune 500 client of mine went through a massive layoff. HR brought executives into a room and held up 5×7 cards of each employee for a recommendation of ‘keep’ or ‘go’. Those they knew stayed. Those they didn’t know were let go.
Unfortunately, many of the best employees (I had observed) were let go. Why? They just kept their heads down and did good work. They never self-promoted their accomplishments, and worse, never made themselves known to key executives.
Good post Dan.
Ferguson,
Powerful story that should be a wake up call for all us “heads down” types!
Thank you for adding value to the conversation.
Best,
Dan
Wow, this post is so relevant to my work life right now! This validation of the fact that it is perfectly acceptable to promote one’s self is really valuable.
I recently asked a senior leader in my organization to share her impression of me and was told I’m someone who keeps her head down and deals with issues as they arise – in other words, reliable.
I felt deflated, but it was a wake up call. As a leader I owe it to my team as well as to myself to be able to positively influence others in our organization. Thanks for your suggestions, and those of the other commenters, too. I will put them to use.
Hi Dorothy,
Thank you for the good word.
I love, “I owe it to my team as well as myself.” It should help all the reluctant self-promoters to realize an accurate appreciation for our contributions helps everyone.
You have my best wishes for success,
Dan
Reblogged this on Jots & Thoughts and commented:
Self-promotion without being arrogant. That’s the trick.
Just wanted to share my technique in case it can be helpful to others. After I’ve settled on my 3 major objectives (critical actions) for the year, I keep them on an Excel spreadsheet and then insert with dates the significant things I’ve done towards achieving those objectives. It’s always very helpful to review the spreadsheet to see where I am. And of course it is helpful if I’m speaking with anyone on the subject.
That is a great idea not only for self promotion but keeping track of the steps toward achieving your goals. Thank you for sharing. I think I will start to use that.
Thank you Dan for the lead on this book, I just bought it on Amazon. Great post.
Hi Tina,
I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. If you get a chance, let me know what you think.
Best,
Dan
I will do that, thanks again
Tina
Dear Dan,
A good topic for the healthy debate!
Self-promotion is not desirable if the firm follows right good reporting systems. It’s a self- defeating exercise if your communication goes unnoticed and doesn’t get any kind of acknowledgement form the superiors.
A mandatory form of reporting on a weekly/fortnightly/monthly basis
doesn’t provide any scope for self-promoting efforts. The bosses need to act professionally and be caring enough to provide the needed support and encouragement to all working under them.
Dear Dr. Asher,
I love the perspective you brought to the table. If the organization is great at understanding the performance of their employees then the need for self-promotion diminishes… KaCHING!
Best,
Dan
Dear Dr. Asher,
I fully agree with your ideas and insights. Yes, why someone’s contributions go unnoticed? Why people need to promote themselves? I think this is the question of accountability and authenticity. When leaders either do not take accountability or do not fix right accountability, problem of promotion emerges. When leaders do not either appear authentic or do not believe in, then practices of promotion emerges. People with superficial appearance show their performance by promoting themselves. And when such practices start growing, future start shrinking. And deserving people start feeling heat of promotion without real performance. And one can safely assume the future of the organisations.
Regards
Ajay
Hi Dan,
I believe the other aspect of ” bragging” without resorting to it ,which works wonders is to have your team carry your vision in all they do. This congruity and alignment becomes fairly visible to the top management.
Cheers
Shakti
Hi Shakti,
I see what you mean. A team that functions well takes leadership. However, I think the spirit of Joel’s book is we shouldn’t expect others to see our value organically. Hopefully they will. Maybe asking how top management perceives the performance is in order?
Best,
Dan
Dear Dan,
I wonder why we need self promotion strategy. Is it not enough to just perform and let leaders measure it? Why do we so concern about bragging? I think it happens when success parameter is promotion than performance. Those who steal the credit of others may succeed in short term but struggle to find their core afterwards. It is also true that unless superior or boss acknowledge your contribution, it is not contribution in the organisation. But is it really true? Does one please boss to get acknowledged? These questions look simple but hard to answer. How much energy do we waste on attempting to promote ourselves? Can we use less energy to produce better performance? I strongly believe in self promoting by showing your contribution. You should set example by your actions. People will automatically promote you. When you attempt to self promote yourself, it looks empty. People might perceive you as a boaster. I think promoting and non- promoting is based on individual belief and organisational need. Every person has unique character and based on that he or she finds it easy either to stick to values (performance) or behaviours (promotion). but the ultimate danger is how others perceive you.
Dear Ajay,
YOu went deep today… thank you.
Your last line captures a central point….”how others perceive you.”
It seems self-promotion is about aligning real performance with real perception.
Thank you for sharing you insights.
Best,
Dan
A very timely and good advice. I recently applied for a job I had to made an inventory over my performances and I was astonished. I thought I was mediocre or even worse and suddenly I saw how well I have performed. I listed all my responsibilities and saw what the results had been for the last four years. I was — surprised – my results was great and in some areas exellent! My perseption of myself has been false. It had been coloured by people who did not have my best interest in mind. I will not listen to people who do not hold my best interest in mind. I will look at reality and listen to people who care. It really gave my self confidence a boost. So it is an exellent advice. Reality talks loud!
Anne,
Wow, I love your comment. It reminds me that we are often very hard on ourselves and practice of keeping track of our achievements helps us as much as it might help others.
You experience and insights really shine through here and help me.
Thank you,
Dan
nice for leaders and managers very informative
Wow, once again something I hadn’t thought of! Keeping track of accomplishments- my husband is great at this! When i get down he reminds me of all the things i’ve accomplished and it does matter. Thanks for another great tidbit towards becoming a great leader!
What great advice. Many people shy away from self-promotion because of what they’ve experienced or seen in their past. Maybe a better name might be self-value. When you take stock of who you are and what you’ve accomplished, you’re confidence increases because you can say, “I can do that!” With self-value your more likely to congratulate and celebrate yourself. When you celebrate you might find others celebrating with you.
Sue Bock
http://couragetoadventure.com/blog