Barry, a middle manager for Lawrence Brooks & Associates, has a big office with a huge desk. He has a pen holder, a business card holder, and three pictures of his family on his desk. On his walls he has a few paintings, and he keeps his accomplished recognition certificates in his desk drawer. Barry is a quiet guy when he talks about his accomplishments, but when he discusses business with others, he knows everything about his industry.
How would it feel to get a big assignment or a big promotion due to your "tooting your own horn?" Very few of us feel comfortable enough to actually promote ourselves in the workplace. Too often we defeat our self-promotion efforts by assuming that other people won't be interested in what we do, or by carried over childhood notions that it's not polite to brag about ourselves and our accomplishments. The phrase "self-promotion" means to draw attention to yourself for your own good deeds or accomplishments. Do you ever intentionally seek to draw others' attention to yourself when you do something nice for someone else?
Do you find it difficult to talk about yourself and your business because you consider it as "bragging?" How often have you heard other's say you should have an Elevator Speech about your business? Telling others what you do well and how proud you are of what you do makes others aware of your accomplishments. These are the things that helps shape your career and the perception of who you are. You can let others know of your accomplishments without sounding like a braggart.
The barometer of your success is being proud of yourself and your achievements. You are an expert at what you do because it is exciting and fulfilling. If these two things are not true, you would not be doing what you are doing! But to be successful, you need to let other people know about your expertise and your enthusiasm and blow your own horn. There's nothing wrong with self-promotion.
For those in the entertainment business, self-promotion is very important and key to their success. What if everyone in your workplace had the potential to show what they can do? What is wrong with some self-promotion? Think about it! You work hard and devote long hours to getting ahead. You are passionate in the work you do. Just like entertainers, you are an expert and good at what you do. The hallmark of your accomplishments show who you are. So why not shout it to everyone you know?
The problem is that many of us are uncomfortable with self-promotion, especially in the workplace. As you grew up, your parents told you not to brag about yourself to others. Times have changed, and to get ahead in today's changing work environment, you have to put yourself out there. You are great at talking to others about your work, but how many times do you find that when you talk about your work are you enthusiastic about your accomplishments? Most of the time, you probably do not want to show off or brag about yourself.
Here are some ways you can begin practicing the art of self-promotion.
1. Reflect on Your Own Professional Accomplishments: Two things come to mind here:
First, write your own Elevator Speech and listen to the way it sounds and how you feel when you say it. What is it that you are proud of? What awards or recognition did you receive? What would you say to a decision-maker if you only had a minute or two?
Second, make a list of your skills and accomplishments. Then write down the top 3-5 accomplishments of which you are most proud. Promote yourself in these areas, and start blowing your own horn about these accomplishments. For example, you are the best negotiator in your department, and you negotiated a big deal for yourself and your company. Or you landed a big account that will move you forward in your career. If so, tell others about how you got the account. (If this is too much for you to handle, then start by telling only a little of what positives took place for you.)
2. Goal Setting: A good starting point to self-promotion is to set a goal and make a plan to become one of the very best people in your field or at least in your workplace. Decide what you would like to be known for. The better you get and the more respected you become, the more you will be the "go-to" person for your expertise. Develop the essential skills that you need to be in the top 20 percent in your field or of your workplace.
3. Learn a New Skill: Gain a new skill or technique that relates to your job. This might be something different that your co-workers do not have or know about. You then become the expert in this area. Your talents, whether they are newly acquired or something you have created, put you in a better position for others to know you are the "go-to" person in this particular area.
4. Feel Comfortable: Many people feel uncomfortable about blowing their own horn as a self-promoting technique, especially in the workplace. You can't afford to be bashful in today's business climate. No matter what your product or service is, "toot your own horn" and you may soon find business opportunities will come your way. When you meet someone for the first time, people typically ask, "What do you do?" Most people answer with their job title. This does nothing to enhance the value of what you do. Instead of telling people, "I work for XYZ Company in customer service," one woman said, "I make angry people happy. Last month, I made sure 23 disgruntled people stayed with us.".
5. Adjust Your Attitude: If you do not blow your own horn and market yourself, who will? Most successful professionals will tell you that they do not always feel confident in talking about themselves. They have to push themselves. The example given in step 4 lets others know that she is doing something right to keep people.
o Accept Compliments: Simply say "Thank you" and then be quiet.
o Speak Well of Others: Do not bad-mouth others either for promoting themselves or for their accomplishments, or to promote yourself or make yourself look better. This will only backfire in the long term.
6. Promote Yourself with Confidence: Most people do not always feel comfortable sharing their good fortune. Being able to articulate them with confidence comes from practice. It is one thing to recognize your accomplishments, but it is another to express them with confidence. As much as possible, weave your accomplishments into conversations when it is appropriate to do so.
7. Get Your Name Out There: Every day when you look around, think about how you can get name recognition by either getting an award for one thing or another, obtaining a new client, speaking on a topic of interest to you, getting an article in your company's newsletter, writing a newspaper article, or even getting a book published,.
Self-promotion is recognized as one of the most important attributes for getting ahead. As much as possible, do not mention your same accomplishment over and over to the same people. Otherwise, people will consider it as bragging.
It is great to point out someone else's accomplishments. Just make sure you do not use it as an excuse to put yourself down. Tell others what you do well and what you are most proud of. That is what self-promotion is. Self-promotion not only makes other people aware of your accomplishments and expertise, but it also shapes their perceptions of you.
Outside of your company, spread the word why people should be doing business with you instead of someone else.
Remember Barry? What if all he changed was that he hung the recognition certificates on his wall? This would be a great start in his self-promotion. Now when he is asked about the certificates, he has the perfect opening to begin tooting his own horn. With a little practice, he will feel comfortable in self-promoting without first being asked a question about a certificate. With his business knowledge, he will find himself moving faster and farther up the corporate ladder than he ever thought he would.
Remember that when it comes to your career, an unwillingness to share your accomplishments may cost you the positions, pay, and promotions you deserve. Toot your own horn and point out your achievements; otherwise others may never notice you and what you can do. Be proud of your accomplishments as it can advance you in your career and in your life. Be willing to tout those small and large kudos and the feathers in your cap whenever you can because it can fuel your future success.
