Tooting your own horn may trigger a few raised eyebrows, but if you want to move up in your career, it’s an essential skill. A little boasting could prove the key to unlocking that coveted promotion, or snagging other perks. What aspiring business professional does not yearn for a cosy corner office, with a skyline view?
Elizabeth Berstein, in her Wall Street Journal column, said the economy is partly to blame that the stakes are higher than ever, for climbing that career ladder. “In the most competitive job market in recent memory, the lesson is clear: You must demonstrate — on multiple platforms — that you excel above all others,” she says.
Do you blanch at the thought of shameless self-promotion? Get over it. These days it’s an integral skill for moving up the ladder. Are you selling yourself, and if not, why not? What impression are you leaving in the minds of those with the power to advance your career? What is your strategy for marketing your personal brand? Don’t assume wallflowers will be noticed.
Peggy Klaus in her book Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It, says bragging is a necessity — not a choice. “Remaining quiet about your successes only leads to being under appreciated and overlooked.”
Caroline Ceniza-Levine, in her Forbes Magazine article, offers these tips for tooting your own horn:
- Practice your elevator speech. Rehearse the retelling of your professional accomplishments until this 30-second rundown on how great you are flows as sweetly as honey. As you share, take note of the emotional reactions you spark in others, as they hear your story. Did they appear interested? Were they getting the picture you wanted to convey?
- Tell a memorable story. No one will recall a lengthy laundry list of your achievements a month from now. Share a compelling, easy-to-remember story about how you handled a crisis situation, or increased sales. That will stick in a manager’s mind.
- Record your accomplishments. Mark down every accomplishment and network connection, including a line-by-line list of your achievements, and then, “recite them in all their glory without blushing,” she says.
Remember to stand tall, when sharing your story, and never be embarrassed in discussing your accomplishments, insights, and those unique abilities that give you the right to toot that horn. Communicate your worth, and do it with an air of natural confidence.
Always remember that you are your own personal sales force. So sell yourself with confidence, as you ascend that career ladder. And, don’t forget to enjoy the view, once you get there.