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Most people are
reluctant to promote themselves and their work. Are you one of them?
You might update your boss about a few noteworthy accomplishments,
but usually you stay humble and keep your nose pressed to the grindstone.
Heaven forbid anyone accuse you of bragging or brown nosing!
"My work
speaks for itself," you think to yourself. "I don't need
to grandstand to get noticed and get ahead."
Right?
Wrong!
Having coached
hundreds of clients, I've learned that those who advance the furthest
and fastest aren't necessarily the most talented or deserving. One
quality they almost always share is the ability to effectively communicate
their impact and value to others in their organizations.
They're able to
promote themselves without annoying their superiors or alienating
their colleagues.
How do they do
it?
I encourage you
to read the article below. You'll learn useful tips to help you get
noticed and recognized without causing resentment to those around
you.
Effective self-promoters
have a different mindset. You realize there is nothing shameful or
improper about seeking credit and recognition for your accomplishments.
You don't assume
you'll get noticed and rewarded. Proactively seek out and take advantage
of opportunities to communicate the value you provide to your team
and organization.
Think of yourself
as a brand, seeking to promote your "brand attributes."
For example, let's say you want the reputation for "being a problem
solver who gets results."
The next time
you solve a nettlesome problem or achieve or exceed your objectives,
capitalize on opportunities to share your triumphs with those who
are capable of influencing your career. It might be a brief "heads
up" email to your boss or a casual conversation in the elevator
with your department head.
Here's what you
should emphasize:
1.
Discuss the accomplishment and the specific steps you took.
Promote the steps taken and your role in achieving the objective.
Facts and figures take the focus away from personalities.
2. Focus on
the benefits to your group, department or company.
A "big picture" approach softens the impression that you're
more concerned about promoting yourself than the success of your organization.
3. Recognize
the contributions of others on your team.
Share the limelight with your colleagues. Use "we" instead
of "I." Name names whenever possible. "We couldn't
have done it without Shari Montoya." "Jim Reynolds in Accounting
helped us on the budget issues."
When working with
clients I find many of them are critical of others who are excellent
self-promoters. They are angry because their colleagues have advanced
faster in their careers and it's frustrating when you consider yourself
to be smarter and more talented. I recommend they stop being critical
and judgmental. Instead, learn from these people because they have
had great success and most likely didn't work as hard to get ahead.
You may not like everything they are doing, but you might learn a
few tips that could directly impact your own self-promoting skills.
"Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely
laid an egg cackles as if she had laid an asteroid."
-- Mark Twain
"Bragging is not an attractive trait, but let's
be honest. A man who catches a big fish doesn't go home through an
alley."
-- Ann Landers
"If you don't get noticed, you don't have anything.
You just have to be noticed, but the art is in getting noticed naturally,
without screaming or without tricks."
EXECUTIVE COACHING: Garfinkle Executive Coaching provides individualized,
customized coaching to help you move to higher levels of leadership by
creating impact, exercising influence, boosting visibility and achieving
significant victories on key projects. http://www.garfinkleexecutivecoaching.com/
CAREER COACHING: You spend one-third of your life at work, so
you deserve to feel fulfilled by it. Joel's unique 7-Step Dream Job Process
focuses first and foremost on helping you find the perfect job that aligns
with your passions and natural talents. http://www.dreamjobcoaching.com/coaching/career/
SPEAKING: Frequent speaker at keynotes, meetings, conventions
and seminars. He will energize your keynotes, meetings, conventions and
seminars with his compelling and inspirational speaking style. http://www.garfinkleexecutivecoaching.com/speaking.html
