By Maria Hanson, for LiveCareer
Want to get ahead at work or land that job you’ve been eyeing? It’s time to do something
that might initially make you uncomfortable: Brag.
"Today, bragging is a necessity, not a choice," says Peggy Klaus, Fortune 500 communication
and leadership coach, and author of Brag: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without
Blowing It. "Staying quiet about your achievements only leads to being underappreciated
and overlooked."
But there’s a fine line between tooting your horn and blowing it so loudly people
cringe. Follow these tips from Klaus to master the art of self-promotion and advance
your career:
"For most people, self-promotion is about as comfortable as having a root canal,"
says Klaus. "But it doesn’t have to be obnoxious and overbearing, or a laundry list
of ‘I, I, I.’ "Her advice: Talk about yourself and your accomplishments in a conversational,
story-like manner. The more you do it, the less forced it will feel.
Create a brag bag. Klaus advises clients to keep a brag bag --
a running collection of easily accessible information about your best self. A brag
bag includes your accomplishments, passions, interests, and colorful details that
underscore who you are professionally and personally. Bring out these gems for everything
from performance reviews to new client presentations – and don’t forget to emphasize
them in your resume.
Use our Resume Builder for
help selling yourself.
Prepare until you’re bragalicious. Whether you’re getting ready for a
job interview, networking event or any gathering where you need to shine,
the trick is to prepare so you’ll be at your natural best. "Crafting creative, memorable
messages and stories about yourself and accomplishments is at the heart of your
bragging campaign," says Klaus. Don’t wing it: Rehearse important points and stories
so you’re not groping for words or stumbling along.
Borrow a move from athletes. To be at their best, athletes study their performance
on video. So should you. Klaus suggests having a friend record you in a mock interview,
presentation, or whatever event you’re preparing for. When you play back the video,
examine how you come across. Does what you said sound interesting, unique and compelling?
If not, reach into your brag bag for new nuggets to set you apart.
Don’t forget your attitude. You can say all the right things, but if you’re not
excited about your work and accomplishments, your bragging campaign will go nowhere.
"People want to listen to others who are excited about who they are, what they do,
and what they are saying," Klaus says. You don’t have to be an over-the-top cheerleader.
Just realize how much you have to offer, and the enthusiasm should follow.
Take a free career interest test to help you identify all the brag-worthy qualities
you have to offer.