Good vs. Bad Bragging
What are you most proud of?
Bad bragging: "I'm a great sales manager because I'm good with people. I always get the top numbers at the end of the month."
Good bragging: "You know, when I was first hired, I had no idea what a great fit it would be for my skills and personality. It encompasses my ability to bring out the best in people and years of hands-on experience, which helps me to understand what my team is going through."
What do you do?
Bad bragging: "I work for a life insurance company. It tends to be a very conservative business, but I'm in the IT department and I'm actually responsible for introducing new technologies to the company."
Good bragging: "I began working at a major life insurance company ten years ago. I started in IT at the ground level-literally in the basement of a building at the help desk. But my curiosity and drive helped me to convince my boss that there was an opportunity with the Internet. We developed an early online presence, and nowadays, the Web site plays a major part in our business."
How did you get into banking?
Bad bragging: "Through a friend of a friend."
Good bragging: "You know, if someone would have told me I'd end up in this industry, I would have laughed. But, while I was getting my MBA, it all became very exciting. Now I'm working with high-net-worth individuals with assets ranging from five million to twenty million dollars! My parents can't believe it."
I heard you got a promotion--congrats!
Bad bragging: "Yes, I'm now chief of staff to the president of my organization."
Good bragging: "I guess we haven't spoken since my promotion to chief of staff to the president of (name of organization). One of the things I'm enjoying most about it is the travel. I just returned from a mission to Vietnam where we're involved in a project to eradicate AIDS. I'm thrilled about all the new opportunities."
Build Your Brand
March 2009
Peggy Klaus
Author
Self-branding is essential to solidifying your reputation in the business world, and bragging (the right way, of course) is one of the most powerful tools for delivering your message. But, when it comes to self-promotion, many of us wince and make excuses. Here are some tips on talking about yourself without turning off those you're trying to impress:
Determine your brand.
Before you promote yourself, you must make sure you've established a clear and consistent image in people's minds when they think of you. List your core values, key talents, and winning personality traits. Find out where the gaps are between how people perceive you and how you want to be perceived, and then you'll know which areas to enhance.
Create brand awareness by getting yourself out there.
Identify key figures who should know you better and invite them for coffee. Also, strengthen current relationships with colleagues, find ways to meet people in different departments, introduce yourself to higher-ups, mentor a junior associate, and get involved in industry-related conferences.
Learn how to brag without really bragging by turning your accomplishments into a story.
Avoid "I" statements, talking nonstop, stealing credit, name-dropping, and exaggerating. Instead, weave together a few impressive nuggets of information (clients you've worked with, how long you've been in the industry, a project you recently completed) into an entertaining conversational story. Have a variety of "bragbites" that you can string together into a relevant anecdote on a moment's notice.
Don't save "tooting your own horn" for performance reviews.
Open up a Word document and create a "brag bag"--a running tab of all the info about your best self. Get specific with colorful details about who you are professionally and personally, including accomplishments, passions and interests. Your list needs to be updated at least weekly to reflect ever-changing circumstances and audiences. Practice pulling from the "brag bag" in a variety of situations. Measure your success in tangible outcomes, such as receiving a follow up call from a new contact, positive feedback from your boss, or landing a big project.
Put the right words in their mouths.
Whether being introduced for a keynote or to higher ups at a cocktail reception, make sure you've given the person delivering the introduction sufficient information to do it right. More often than not, people will repeat what they've heard from you. If you haven't given them much material, they will try to drum up something, which isn't very likely to hit the mark.
Maintain visibility.
Make sure you keep in touch with key players. This can be through scheduled in-person meetings, e-mails asking them how their project is coming, or updates highlighting your successes and what your next steps are. Be sure to know each person's preferred method of communication, and don't underestimate the importance of face-to-face encounters.
Adapted from The Hard Truth About Soft Skills by Peggy Klaus, Collins.