Professional Bragging - how to do it without the ‘ick’
This week I’m inspired by an article I saw in the Times titled, ‘Brag Like an American To Get Ahead at Work’.
It’s a great read!
But it reminded me that so many people I work with find it hard to sell themselves without feeling the ‘ick’.
But selling yourself is such an important part of life - people need to know who you are, what you promise, what you’ve achieved and what you can do for them - that we have to feel the ick and do it anyway.
So how do we make it easier?
Well this is what I’ve found:
Be passionate about what you do and how you talk about it - ‘I love x’, ‘what I’m passionate about is y’
Talk about the challenges you’ve faced and what was exciting / tricky / rewarding about facing and conquering them
Talk about the impact you have in terms of what’s rewarding for you ‘what meant the most to me was the way the team worked together to deliver X’
If you talk about your achievements in this way, you are telling an interesting story and highlighting your many talents and skills without ever having to brag. You are explaining the facts of what you did but bringing them to life with dynamism and passion. You are illustrating who you are, what’s important to you, what you do and what effect you have without ever having to say ‘I’m the big I am, I am’
Have a go, try it out and let me know how you go.
Be fearlessly YOU
Tracy
