Self promotion doesn’t come naturally for me. When put on the spot, I usually try to downplay my accomplishments, or point out what I could’ve done better.
I’m sure you can relate.
Obviously, having humility is a good thing. Nobody likes a big ego.
However, there are times when it pays to talk yourself up.
Take a college career fair for example. The whole point is to convince the company recruiter that you’re a better candidate for the job than the guy standing in line behind you. In which case, your odds of landing an interview increase if you can confidently speak to what’s on your resume.
Negotiating a pay raise is another scenario to consider. If you want a higher salary, you’ll need to communicate persuasively why you’re worth it.
In situations like these, bragging is actually a good thing. But doing it well is a fine balancing act. On one hand, you don’t want to come across as cocky or arrogant; while on the other hand, you also need to portray confidence and competence.
Sound impossible?
Well, my guess is you’ve probably done it already before. And if you’re like me, you probably never gave that particular conversation much thought in advance.
Think back. How did it go?
If you think it could use some work, I suggest you keep reading.
In The Great CEO Within, author Matt Mochary describes how Tyler Weitzman, founder and CEO of Black SMS, once spent his undergradute years at Standford researching the ultimate method for telling one’s story in a humble way. The structure he recommends looks like this:
- Credit : “It could not have happened without [name the others involved].”
- Hard Work : “We had to put in so much to make it happen, for example, [describe the hard work].”
- Vulnerability : “It was most difficult for me when…”
- Duty : “We were driven by our dream to [noble motive].”
- Gratitude : “I am so proud and thankful that…”
I haven’t tried this method verbatim myself. So I can’t say from personal expereince how well it works.
But it makes sense. It has all three elements that make for a good story: A backdrop of the people and work involved, followed by conflict and hardship, and a resolute ending that concludes with lessons learned.
I recommend that you keep this framework in mind the next time you find yourself preparing for an interview or performance review.
Anytime you’re in a position where it makes sense to brag about your accomplishments, practice doing so in a way that exudes both confidence and humility.
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