Zaid Mohamad

WHILE some people are comfortable about sharing their accomplishments, there are those who shy away from it, especially in our part of the world.

This could be down to social pressures, cultural expectations or simply low self-confidence. We may also be conditioned to remain humble, or society will label us as arrogant and boastful. We're constantly reminded that blowing our own trumpet isn't cool.

Unfortunately, not sharing our accomplishments may cause us to be left behind, especially in today's competitive and connected world. At the same time, over-sharing inappropriately will also create a negative image of ourselves.

So, what's the balance? How can we promote ourselves appropriately without being labelled as arrogant and boastful?

Being confident with our achievements is a part of personal leadership skill. It's an important element of our personal branding. Just like successful brands, we must tell the world of our achievements and capabilities, before people start trusting and "buying" from us.

The good news is that self-promotion is a skill we can learn and master. There are ways we can do so without stepping on other people's toes.

SHARING VERSUS BOASTING

People who boast tend to focus on how great they are as an individual. They portray themselves as the smartest, fastest and grandest. Do you like such a person? I don't think so.

On the other hand, it's okay to share the results we achieve, especially if there's a potential to help others too. For example, you may find a good deal online. Instead of saying how financially-savvy you are, just share the information so that others can enjoy the benefits too.

Or, you may have found a way to deliver something in a faster, better and cheaper way. If you decide to keep quiet for fear of being labelled a show-off, you may have deprived the company of a bigger savings opportunity.

BALANCING 'I' VERSUS 'WE'

No man is an island. We need each other to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, when we achieve success, it's easy to forget other people's contributions.

So, one way to promote ourselves is to highlight our effectiveness as a team player. Give credit where they're due. Avoid saying "I did this" when there are other people involved behind the scenes too.

Peggy Klaus, author of Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It, likens this approach to a rolling résumé, which comes across as boring and self-aggrandising. It's better to talk about your team's accomplishments as this has the benefit of elevating those you lead, while also reflecting well on you as the person steering the ship.

ADVERTISING OURSELVES

We must think of ourselves as a product. Consumers will not know until we advertise our capabilities and qualities. But we can't stop there. We need to deliver on what we say we can do or that'll be the end of our brand.

Hence, promoting ourselves is equally important to delivering a great job. It's not about being arrogant and boastful. It's about expanding our world so that more people can improve their lives by engaging our services.

Zaid Mohamad coaches and trains others to bring out their best while enjoying a peaceful, purposeful life. Reach him at [email protected].