Tips to Overcome Self-Promotion Hesitations

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned in my career is this: No one will advocate for you the way you can advocate for yourself. When I first entered the professional world, I thought my work would speak for itself. I believed that if I put my head down, worked hard, and delivered great results, recognition and opportunities would naturally follow. But here’s what I discovered: While hard work is essential, visibility is just as important. It took observing how others approached their careers to realize this: The people who often get ahead aren’t just hardworking — they’re intentional about making their contributions known. They speak up in meetings, share their goals openly, and make sure their achievements don’t go unnoticed. That realization changed the way I approached my career. I began to see the importance of not just doing the work, but owning my voice and advocating for myself. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way about self-advocacy: 1. Track your accomplishments. I started keeping a journal where I noted key projects, results, and positive feedback. When performance reviews came around, I didn’t have to scramble to prove my value. I had it documented. 2. Ask for what you need. Whether it’s a promotion, mentorship, resources, or even a clearer direction, I learned to be upfront about my goals. 3. Speak up. This was the hardest for me. I used to hold back, worried my ideas weren’t “good enough.” But I realized that staying silent wasn’t helping anyone, not me, not my team, and not the organization. Advocating for yourself isn’t about arrogance or entitlement, it’s about honoring your value. It’s about recognizing that your hard work, skills, and ideas are worth being seen, heard, and rewarded. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: Don’t wait for someone else to notice your potential. Take the first step. Speak up. Celebrate your wins. Ask for what you need. Your career is yours to build, and no one else will fight for it as fiercely as you can. #StephSynergy

High-performing employees are often burdened with additional work without corresponding recognition or advancement opportunities, which is also known as a “quiet promotion.” I’ve seen it with many of my clients. Being too good at your job can trap you in it—so much so that you end up asking the same frustrating question: “If I’m so good at my job, why am I not getting promoted?” In my latest Fast Company article, I share four ways to rebrand yourself from dependable doer to strategic leader: 1️⃣ Make the shift from expertise to influence Oftentimes, people make high-impact mistakes because leaders delegate when the stakes are too high. So, the key to breaking this cycle is to start delegating with low-stakes tasks. 2️⃣ Avoid the “hidden gem” trap Avoiding self-promotion for fear they will come across as “braggy,” they believe their hard work and results should speak for themselves. Unfortunately, those efforts often don’t get noticed because their boss is too busy to connect the dots. 3️⃣ Advocate for yourself I coach many high-performing leaders who are brilliant at mentoring others, cheering on peers, and celebrating team wins. However, they rarely apply that same energy to their own advancement. If you’d write a glowing email to recommend a mentee for a project, write one for yourself. 4️⃣ Speak in future tense Many professionals unintentionally brand themselves as “reliable and steady,” but not as “innovative, visionary, or future-ready.” Here’s a subtle but powerful shift: Stop talking only about what you’ve done, and start talking about what you’re building. It’s important to remember that rebranding yourself at work doesn’t happen overnight. It takes intentional effort to stop being seen as the person who always comes through and start being seen as the person who creates the conditions for others to come through. You don’t get promoted for being reliable. You get promoted for being visionary, influential, and growth-minded. So ask yourself: How am I teaching others to see me? And, more importantly: Who am I becoming next?

Self-promotion can be a series of uncomfortable steps outside one’s comfort zone, especially for introverts. Initially I struggled with marketing myself and the idea of self-promotion felt unnatural, almost inauthentic. However, reading "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain was a game-changer. It helped me “go inwards” to seek my unique introverted strengths that can be leveraged in marketing. I learned that self-promotion doesn't have to be loud or boastful; it can be authentic and value-driven. Here are a few techniques that helped me embrace marketing: ✅Share My Story: I began sharing my journey, focusing on real experiences and challenges in building team culture. This authenticity resonated more with my audience than any polished pitch could. ✅Value First: I shifted my focus from self-promotion to offering value. By providing actionable insights on purposeful leadership, I established my expertise naturally. ✅Leverage Content: Creating doodles that reflected my values and expertise allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals. Writing on LinkedIn and speaking at webinars became platforms where I could share my knowledge authentically. ✅Networking Authentically: I started engaging in meaningful one-to-one conversations rather than simply attending networking events. Building genuine connections with others in my field opened doors organically. Marketing yourself authentically might feel uncomfortable at first, but it's about finding your unique voice and sharing it with the world. How have you embraced self-promotion? Share your experiences!

Actions don’t always speak louder than words. Like in the workplace. Women are taught from an early age to be deferential, humble, nice, and accommodating. We learn to be the good girl in school. To follow the rules, get good grades, and not make trouble. To put our heads down and quietly do all the work. And wait for others to notice. We learn to equate touting our accomplishments to making trouble. Being arrogant. Bragging. This follows us into our careers where we rinse and repeat. Head down. Work quietly. Hope to be rewarded. Would it be great if it were enough to just do good work? Of course. But in my experience that is rarely the case. (At least not once you hit a certain point in your career). Systemic change is needed in the way women are viewed and treated in professional spaces. But we can also create change on the individual level. Internal change to stop buying into the messaging that has us shrinking and external action. More self-promotion and self-advocacy is one way, on an individual level, that we can intentionally show up for us and take up more space. There is absolutely a possibility that it will come with repercussions. But there are also repercussions if we don’t. A great place to start is to simply acknowledge and keep track of your accomplishments, kudos, and wins. I like to keep a file. Emails I’ve received from clients. Emails to myself about things that I’ve done well. Emails from colleagues. Do you have something similar? How do you keep track of wins? A great second step is to find ways to share them. I used my file of emails when I had an annual performance review as an associate or to advocate for myself for promotion to partner. (I also use them when I’m having one of those days of self-doubt. To remind myself of the evidence I have that I’m good at this job.) Other ways you could consider sharing your wins: ▫️Share them here on LinkedIn ▫️Send your boss a list of things you’ve accomplished at the end of each month or quarter or set up a meeting to discuss them ▫️Advocate for a new opportunity for yourself and use those wins to show why you’re the person for that opportunity ▫️When someone congratulates you on something, don’t diminish it. Acknowledge that you worked hard. Acknowledge that it was complex.  ▫️Nominate yourself for an award or accolade or leadership role. If it feels really uncomfortable to share your wins, I get it. It takes practice. My favorite way to start getting comfortable with this is to find a colleague or a friend that you can start sharing with. Let them do the same. Trade wins. (You can always DM me one of your wins confidentially if you want a virtual high ten 🙌.) A ❤️ note to you: If this idea seems uncomfortably impossible, I can help you start advocating for yourself more. Send me a DM or sign up for a free call with me at the Book an Appointment link in my bio, and we will talk about how.

Want To Master the art of building confidence and owning achievements without feeling boastful? Use These 5 Techniques To Promote Yourself. I have been in the Sales industry for 15+ years. During that time, I have closed millions in sales deals while building high-performing teams in male-dominated industries. I recently had the honor of presenting at the INBOUND conference, where I shared insights on how Women Sell Better by Leveraging Diversity to Boost Sales. In fact, I’ve invested so many hours into mastering my craft that I’ve developed frameworks and techniques that not only increase sales but transform how professionals see themselves and their abilities. But do you want to know a secret? I actually use the same five proven techniques every time. Technique #1: The Acknowledge & Affirm Strategy Here’s how it works: - Step 1: When someone compliments you, pause and fully absorb it. - Step 2: Acknowledge the compliment by saying, “Thank you,” but don’t stop there. - Step 3: Affirm it with “It’s true” or by stating the achievement behind the compliment. This simple template allows you to confidently own your accomplishments, transforming compliments into moments of empowerment. Technique #2: The Achievement Reflection Here’s how it works: - Step 1: Regularly reflect on recent successes, no matter how small. - Step 2: Write down your specific actions to achieve them. - Step 3: Share these reflections with others as part of your personal brand story. Quick note: Don’t downplay or brush off your accomplishments. That's a mistake. These steps work better when you fully embrace and communicate your wins authentically. Technique #3: The ‘Lead with Value’ Method Here’s how it works: - Avoid starting conversations with 'I did this' – it can come off as boastful. - Do lead with the value your action brought to the team or the client instead. - If you avoid self-centered language and focus on the value you create, you’ll unlock greater recognition and deeper connections. Easy, right? Technique #4: The Feedback Amplifier Here’s how it works: - Step 1: Ask for feedback on specific aspects of your work. - Step 2: Use the positive feedback to validate your strengths. - Step 3: Incorporate this feedback into your narrative when promoting your skills. Do these 3 things, and you’ll naturally amplify your confidence and others' perception of your expertise. Technique #5: The Confidence Anchor Here’s how it works: - Tip 1: Create a daily ritual where you recognize at least one thing you’ve done well. - Tip 2: Visualize a past success before entering a challenging situation. - Tip 3: Use affirmations to remind yourself of your strengths. That’s it! These techniques help you build unshakable confidence and promote your achievements without feeling boastful. #ThankYouItsTrue #OwnYourAwesome #WomenInSales

Unfortunately, many job seekers aren’t comfortable with self-promotion because they equate it with bragging. Or they don’t do it because they lack confidence or certainty in their value as a candidate. I’ve spoken to thousands of job seekers who underestimate their skills and accomplishments. The problem is that we are passed over for great opportunities and higher earnings when we don't share them. Employers can't guess or assume your abilities; you must make them clear and compelling. Self-promotion is a powerful tool for career advancement when done authentically and effectively. Here are 5 ways to draw attention to your qualifications and skills without sounding arrogant. 1. Quantify Achievements: Show the impact of your leadership by quantifying your achievements. Did you increase revenue or reduce costs? By how much? Did you lead a team? How big was it and what were the results of your team's work? Use concrete numbers where possible to illustrate your effectiveness. 2. Highlight Leadership and Strategic Skills: As an executive, it's important to demonstrate not only your ability to manage, but also to lead and strategize. Highlight experiences where you've set strategy, guided teams through change, or demonstrated thought leadership. 3. Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each application, highlighting the most relevant experiences and accomplishments. 4. Use Action Verbs and Power Words: Start each bullet point with a strong action verb like "led," "spearheaded," "orchestrated," etc. This helps create a powerful image of you as a proactive leader. 5. Showcase Your Executive Presence: Executive presence is a blend of temperament, competencies, and skills that send all the right signals. Show instances where you've had to make tough decisions, guide a team, or navigate a company through challenging times. If you found these tips helpful save this post and reshare with your network to help others. #LinkedInTopVoices #Careers #PersonalBranding

You need to be a shameless self-promoter because everyone else in the business is. It feels wrong, but the difference between you and them is…you actually have a track record of success to promote. Engineering teams and leaders are taught to be humble and keep their heads down. But if you follow the conventional wisdom, you’ll spend your career watching people who don’t deserve it get ahead. They will keep getting promoted. Their teams will grow. All while you get passed up and your teams get downsized. Self-promotion is beneficial for more than just you, and you must reframe your perspective on it. What happens to the business when those little dogs who jump on the success stick get ahead and the people who contribute the most to the business’s success fall behind? Boeing. Intel. Nissan. It’s not self-promotion when you’re telling the truth and providing an accurate picture to C-level leaders. It’s not selfish when you’re promoting your teams who did most of the heavy lifting. Talk about yourself and your teams in terms of what they did and how it led to business outcomes that wouldn’t have been possible if not for your team. Yes, every project is a business-wide effort involving multiple teams. Talking up your part doesn’t take away from the legitimate work done by other teams. It takes air out of the room so little dogs don’t have space to yap. Set the standard for self-promotion high by pointing out direct business impacts and quantifying the fruits of your work. Expose vague self-promoters by using substantive metrics and KPIs. Embrace self-promotion, but do it in a way that makes you feel good about it. You and your teams put in the work. It’s OK to enjoy the spotlight and take a victory lap. You have earned it.

Want to be the obvious choice for VP? Here’s the truth no one says out loud: The quiet high performer rarely wins. You can deliver incredible results... But if no one knows, it’s like it never happened. I used to think effort alone would get me noticed. It didn’t. → Visibility isn’t bragging. It’s strategy. I watched others rise not by doing more, but by sharing more. That’s when it clicked: Self-promotion = helping others see your value. What you do Why it matters Who it helps The shift that changed everything: I stopped hoping to be seen. I started: → Speaking with intention → Linking work to business goals → Positioning myself like a leader From 17 rejections… To 2 VP offers. Same skills. New visibility. → Why it works: Your calendar shows the work. Your words shape the perception. And perception drives opportunity. Still feel weird about self-promotion? If you’re not your own advocate… who will be? This isn’t ego. It’s leadership. Steal my guide to effortless self-promotion without the cringe. Start showing up like the leader you already are. (Save & share — someone else needs this today) https://lnkd.in/gpSEhFiv

📣 Self-Promotion Doesn’t Have to Feel Icky. Here’s How to Do It Authentically 💬 Let’s be honest, self-promotion can feel uncomfortable, especially if you're someone who believes “my work should speak for itself.” But in today’s competitive landscape, sharing your strengths and impact is essential for career growth, visibility, and influence. As a leadership coach, advisor, and L&D professional, I’ve seen firsthand that authentic self-promotion isn't about bragging, it’s about owning your value and making your contributions visible in service of others. In my latest Harvard Business Review article, I share four practical ways to make self-promotion feel more natural and aligned with your values: 1️⃣ Focus on Impact, Not Ego Shift from “Look what I did” to “Here’s how my work made a difference.” Focus on value, outcomes, and purpose. 2️⃣ Leverage Storytelling Stories are powerful. They turn accomplishments into meaningful narratives that people connect with and remember. 3️⃣ Celebrate Others Along the Way Recognition builds trust. Highlighting your team and collaborators reflects humility and great leadership. 4️⃣ Make It a Habit Self-promotion isn't a one-time pitch. It’s a practice. Whether it’s sharing a small win, updating your LinkedIn, or having intentional conversations, consistency matters. ✨ When done with intention, self-promotion becomes a generous act. It inspires others, builds credibility, and invites collaboration. It also empowers you to uplift others! 💬 How do you promote your work in a way that feels authentic? I’d love to hear your approach in the comments ⬇️ 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eQUyNVdv #Leadership #SelfPromotion #PersonalBrand #CareerGrowth #Coaching #FutureOfWork #Authenticity #LifelongLearning #Advisor #Professor #Thinkers50 #JennyFernandez #MG100 #BestAdvice

A few years ago, I was at a point in my career where I felt like I was putting in all the effort but getting none of the results. I had the skills and experience, but I wasn’t standing out. That’s when I realized the problem: I wasn’t effectively marketing myself. I decided to change my approach. Instead of just listing my qualifications, I started sharing the stories behind them—the challenges I overcame, the lessons I learned, and how those experiences shaped me. The results were almost immediate. Suddenly, people were connecting with my story, and opportunities started to come my way. Here’s what I learned: 🟣 Embrace Your Story: Your journey is unique. Don’t just focus on what you’ve done—highlight how you’ve grown. 🟣 Be Authentic: People connect with real, relatable stories. Share your experiences, both the good and the challenging. 🟣 Consistency Matters: Regularly update your online presence with your journey and insights. This keeps you visible and relevant. Marketing yourself effectively is about more than just listing achievements—it’s about showcasing your authentic self. 🔗 What’s one story from your career that you can start sharing today? Let’s hear it! 👇