How’s that toot of your horn?
Is it appropriately loud and proud?
Or a somewhat sad trombone?
Is The Toot Of Your Horn Like A Sad Trombone?
I wanted to write about bragging without sounding like I’m bragging.
Because no one likes a braggart.
But in actuality, I was really bad at this. There’s a sweet spot between successful and selfish self-promotion that had me shy away since I didn’t sense I could speak of myself in a succinct and stellar manner.
(I am, admittedly, more adept at alliteration…)
Most women I know tend to avoid self-promotion along with the self-reflection necessary to do it accurately and well.
It’s like we’ve got a voice in our head that tells us we’re not good enough, our own internal narrator voicing over our day. Fire that narrator and cast a better voice, one that believes in you and helps you speak up – with satisfaction – about your achievements.
So, how do you amplify your achievements without that braggy feeling? Here’s my #1 suggestion plus 5 additional tips!
#1: Have Someone Else Brag For You.
That’s right, get your own PR person to bestow your benefits. Find supportive colleagues who recognize good work and have the confidence and clout to share it. It’s one of the reasons sponsorship programs are so popular — when a higher-up brings your name and accomplishments to the table, it’s noticed.
One of the greatest gifts I got was when a casual friend and unofficial mentor – who happened to also be a respected executive – spoke up on my behalf. I had just completed a long volunteer project that serviced the organization in a multitude of ways. But because it was outside the scope of my day-to-day, my boss (and his boss) had little knowledge of what I had done or the desire to publicly praise it. This higher-up amplified my work by sending an email to her executive-level colleagues, sharing our positive results and naming me as the person responsible. I was beyond appreciative of her kind and generous gesture, something we need to see more of — higher-level colleagues helping out those below.
But what if you don’t have someone willing to brag for you?
Here are 5 other things YOU can do to brag a bit, without bragging…
1. Express Gratitude
Proud of your project? Thank your supervisor for the opportunity. And use that review to share your success in a non-braggy way.
What does this sound like? For the sake of consistency, I shall refer to the boss as “Bob,” throughout…
“Bob, thanks so much for the opportunity to lead the team this year. We outperformed last year’s earnings and I’m so proud of what we accomplished. I really appreciate you handing me the reins to show what I could do with the right support.”
Of course, this can be hard to do if the opportunity isn’t a leading role or one with quantitative results. But, still, consider:
“Bob, thanks so much for the opportunity to contribute to our year-end presentation by proofreading that 30,000-word document.” (yikes!) “I want to make sure everything we put out reflects our department in the best possible way. I prioritized my time around my other work to get it done for advance review and was able to demonstrate my attention to detail to fine-tune our messaging.”
2. Acknowledge the Challenge
Was the job tough? Did you persevere despite difficult circumstances? Own it!
“This was a challenging assignment to keep on budget, Bob. I was able to save us money by bringing some of the work in-house and establishing a training program for our production staff which means we’ll be able to do more of it on our own dime moving forward.”
3. Offer Comparison and Ask for Assessment
How do you get a disengaged boss to give you the accolades you deserve? Ask for feedback in a way that makes your success apparent and gets Bob to take the bait…
“Bob, I thought this year’s contest strategy was stronger than last. We had 115,000 more entries and greater engagement on social channels based on the distribution plan and catchy hashtag. What do you think was our best improvement when comparing the two campaigns?”
4. Take (a Good) One for the Team
“We” is always more acceptable than “I” so use it frequently. You’ll be seen as a strong leader who lets her contributors soar and a generous and collaborative colleague when you share the praise. But, using “we” doesn’t mean that YOU disappear. Brag as a “we,” but know that you are including “me” (not me, of course, the writer, but YOU).
While there may be no “I” in “team,” there is an “at me” if you unscramble the letters. Don’t get scrambled. You’re an important part of that team, @me!
5. Keep a Brag Book (One for You and One for Bob)
A brag book, like the plethora of photos Grandma carries in her purse? Nope, I’m talking about a file (actual or digital) of accolades. For Bob the Boss, that means anything that documents your job well done that he might not otherwise see. Kudos from a higher-up. A detailed thank you from a vendor. When you don’t have the words, share the words you’ve received from others.
And for you, the file should be simply any reminder of your value. I have a personal folder of hand-written notes and one-line email shout-outs that I’ve saved for more than 20 years. (It probably should be a lot thicker by now). If I’m having a bad day or questioning my worth, it’s there for me to flip through, a reminder of all I’ve done and the difference I’ve made. When my internal narrator is telling me I’m not accomplishing enough, the folder is my brag book. And I feel better, the future a little brighter.
Keep A Folder Of Accomplishments
So, there you go, member of the always-marching band.
March on with a bugle upgraded to an appropriate piece of brass.
And don’t forget to toot your own horn!
Valerie Gordon is an award-winning television producer and the founder of The Storytelling Strategist, a career and communication firm. She helps clients take command of the power of strategic storytelling to grow their careers and create satisfying and successful next chapters.