In this guest post for the OutSec Blog, Helen Tuddenham of Helen Tuddenham Consulting shares practical strategies to help you self-promote and showcase your accomplishments. Now, let’s dive in!
Have you ever felt that you don’t get the credit you deserve? That job opportunities are given to others, even though you would be ideally suited?
According to Tara Mohr in her book “Playing Big” girls, in particular, learn at school to keep their heads down, do a good job, and assume their work will speak for itself. When success involves getting good marks in homework and exams, that works. But in your career, not everyone sees the good work you do. And with so many distractions in the modern age, you need to work smarter to make an impact.
But self-promotion can feel a little, “icky”. Many of us are taught that boasting about our achievements is a cardinal sin. When we see others do it, it can jar. So, how do you make sure that everyone knows about your great work? That’s also authentic to you without feeling that you’ve lost your self-respect.
If the term “self-promotion” sends shivers up your spine, you need to reframe how you see it. Instead of thinking of it as selling yourself, think of it as sharing information to help others solve their problems.
How can you do this effectively?
Here are five suggestions:
- Think carefully about the positioning. How do you want this to come across? What is your reason for telling the person? And therefore, what do you need to say? For example, if your aim is to show that you are improving your leadership skills, then make sure the story demonstrates this. If it is a team success, point out the role you played.
- Be strategic in who you tell. This will depend on your career and business goals, but generally, think about where you want to be visible and who is influential in that space. Harvard Business Review research found that employees who put in the groundwork to build solid relationships with their seniors were 82% more likely to get promoted than colleagues who hadn’t stayed in touch*.
- Make whatever you share relevant and interesting to that particular person. What is at the forefront of mind right now? Is it keeping up team morale? Then, share something you’ve done to make your team feel happier and more connected. Is it about bringing a fresh perspective to help them solve a problem? Share how you have solved that problem for another client and the benefit it brought
- Be specific. Telling someone about your achievements or skills has a multiplier effect, so make it easy for the person you speak to to promote you to others. Be succinct and include only what they need to know. Plan the conversation and use the STAR mnemonic to help you with this. Situation and Task – briefly outline the context and your role. Action – mention one or two key things about what you did, giving enough information to clarify that you are behind the success. Spend most of your time talking about the Result – what was the successful outcome, and why is it helpful for this person to know?
- Share positive stories about others. Advocate for your team and business partners by sharing their successes in an appropriate way. This has three benefits: firstly, by advocating for others, you’ll feel more confident advocating for yourself; secondly, those you advocate to will see you as a positive person who is looking out for their colleagues and associates; and finally, it may encourage the person you are talking about to reciprocate by sharing positive stories about you!
Finding the right time and place to implement these tips is essential, but remember that it’s not about having one conversation but a series of them. So make a plan. To start with, you could practice sharing positive stories in forums such as team meetings, where people are specifically asked to share successes, making it feel more natural.
Then go for the targeted conversations. Make the most of that awkward moment by the coffee machine or at a networking event. Asking an influential person how work is going for them will probably elicit the same question in return – that’s your opportunity.
And the result? By speaking with a few key people and sharing your successes, you will create a positive story around you. This will improve your visibility and your chances of being tapped on the shoulder next time that promotion or sales opportunity comes up.
So frame it as if you are sharing information to help people solve their problems – and then step forward in confidence!
About Helen Tuddenham
Helen is an executive coach with over 25 years of leadership and learning consultancy experience. So if you are feeling stuck or need support to progress further, Helen’s executive coaching can give you an opportunity to view yourself from multiple angles to eliminate the sticking points.
Want to know more, why not get in touch with Helen by calling her on 07778 482 400 or you can contact her via her website: www.helentuddenhamconsulting.com.
About OutSec
OutSec is the UK’s leading online transcription company whose business has grown substantially since 2002. We are one of the most successful transcription companies in the United Kingdom.
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References:
* https://hbr.org/2021/06/dont-let-wfh-get-in-the-way-of-your-next-promotion
