Why we find it difficult to self-promote

Let’s admit it most of us shy away from self-promotion – and there are good reasons for this! The iconic Australian is humble and self-deprecating, not given to self-promotion, gloating or “big-noting” – self-promotion doesn’t sit well in our culture. Many people are introverted and by nature not comfortable with conversations about themselves. And others would be happy to self-promote but are not good at presenting a story about themselves that is of interest to their audience.

And despite these quite legitimate reasons for not self-promoting knowing how to skilfully talk about your accomplishments is important in career management! In many cases if you can’t communicate and market yourself, you won’t be on the radar for new opportunities, projects or promotions. Being able to build relationships and keep people meaningfully informed about what you are doing can be the difference between staying put and moving forward in your career.

So let me share three simple elements that will help you to develop a clear, authentic message and then confidently deliver it to those who can support you in managing your career.

1. Eyes on the prize. Have a clear vision of the ideal career for you – the role, the industry, the organisation, and an understanding about what might be the next career move to take you there.

2. Know your brand. Have a well-researched and authentic brand statement that succinctly states your value proposition. The Reach 360 tool helps you develop a brand statement based on the feedback of others. You will feel confident that you have support and a solid foundation for how you present yourself.

3. Build relationships. You can build strong professional relationships that are mutually beneficial by developing and nurturing your networks with regard to your future aspirations, what is true for you, and what is of interest and value to your communication partners.

What is the situation in your country / culture regarding self-promotion for career development and what do you do to overcome it?

Richard Anderson, Managing Partner at Point Ahead delivers Personal Brand Strategy for mid-career executives wanting to take control of their careers. Richard works successfully with Australian organizations and individual clients in navigating the emotional and practical challenges of developing an engaging personal brand for both personal and organizational success.
Link: http://www.pointahead.com.au