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Some people are very good at advertising themselves, while others…not so much. Over the past several months, I’ve become increasingly aware of this concept. The presidential election is the most visible example of this phenomenon. Whether you voted Democrat or Republican, no one can argue that President-Elect Trump wasn’t a master self-promoter and Clinton wasn’t far behind him. I don’t know how many times I heard how many buildings Trump owned or how great a long-serving politician Clinton was. Can I blame them for this? Of course not. How can the country find out how wonderful a candidate is unless they tell us?
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Despite what many of you may think about someone like me who writes a blog every week, I really dislike talking about myself – at least to tell others how wonderful and amazing I am. I don’t particularly enjoy bragging about all the amazing special things I do and how I’m making the world a better place. I’d really prefer to just do the thing and hopefully have a positive effect on the world around me.
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This has been particularly difficult for me lately. I’m in the process of trying to get promoted from assistant to associate professor at Western University. Unfortunately, this is an arduous process that requires the creation of a portfolio with extensive supporting documents of all the activities I’ve taken part in over the past six years. It is difficult to objectively write a narrative of all the ways I’ve contributed to my job and not sound like I’m bragging or being disingenuous.
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The problem with the concept of self-promotion is that it implies a negative connation. We see those people we all know that self-centeredly talk about themselves as if they are more special than everyone else. No one likes a braggart.
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In reality, though, it is very important for each of us to be able to appropriately communicate our skills and abilities to others, and that means some level of self-promotion. The trick is advertising yourself in a way with which you can be comfortable.
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“It is very important for each of us to be able to appropriately communicate our skills and abilities to others, and that means some level of self-promotion.”
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Here are some ideas to help all of us self promote in a non-shady, genuine way.
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An honest intent. Promoting yourself must first come from that honest core of yourself, not some self-servicing, braggadocios part that is actually un-confidence masquerading as false bravado.
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Know your audience. Keep in mind to whom you’re speaking and what you are trying to communicate to them. What are their needs in understanding who you are? In this way, you will not need to memorize anything, which would come across disingenuous. Realize that in many situations, such as marketing yourself to a potential business relation, they need to know who you are and what you can do. Holding back and shortchanging yourself will also be doing a disservice to that business contact.
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Be confident. Consider your true value before you begin to speak. What do you have to offer that is different from others? How does your training and experience help you stand out from the crowd? Recall that you’re not bragging but are communicating your skills.
In the highly rare case that you truly have nothing to be confident about, then it may be time to re-evaluate yourself.
“You’re not bragging. You are communicating your skills”
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Use past experiences to highlight achievements. Nothing predicts future behavior better than past experience. When you highlight a special aspect of your skill set and value to the institution, link it to your past (successes and failures) and what you learned from your experience. This is your chance to add a little humble pie to your narrative.
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No one else will. Remember that if you don’t promote yourself, no one else will. Whether you like it or not, if you want someone to understand how special you are and what you have to offer, then YOU will have to do it.
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Marketing yourself in an honest and authentic way is not always easy, but a little forethought and preparation can do wonders to offset that humble part of you that wants to stay quiet. Take it from someone who is no expert at this – it’s a work in progress. Good luck with your next opportunity.
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