How to Share Personal Wins Without Making It Awkward

People often ask me: “How do I talk about myself confidently in interviews or at events without bragging?” This is STILL hard for me. But I have a few tricks: 1. Ask a friend for help Ask a friend or colleague their 3 to 5 favorite traits about you. Tag them below if you want to use this post as a reason to reach out! Sometimes, it’s hard to see our own strengths. — 2. Harvest stories that show those traits Don’t just say “I’m detail-oriented.” Instead, say: “In my last role, I managed a complex, multi-phase project where tracking every detail mattered. I created a system that helped the team stay on schedule—and we launched early.” — 3. Use the ‘Problem → Hard Work → Outcome’ framework When you tell stories about your traits, structure them like this:  • What was the challenge? • What did you do about it? • What was the result? This gives people a full narrative arc, and helps them visualize you solving problems and delivering results. — 4. Let others brag for you If talking about yourself feels awkward, borrow someone else’s words. Example: “My last manager used to say I was the most organized person she’d worked with. That’s why I was often assigned to high-stakes projects.” Testimonials and quotes add credibility, and make it easier to sound proud, not boastful. — 5. Practice out loud Writing your story is one thing. Saying it confidently is another. So, say it out loud like you’re chatting with a friend. Smooth out the rough parts and make it sound like you. If you hold back from presenting your best self, just to avoid sounding like you're bragging, you might end up missing real opportunities. So, get comfortable sharing your strengths. Practice telling your story. And remember: confidence isn’t bragging when it’s backed by truth.

Bragging? No. Strategic Visibility? Absolutely. 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 The biggest misconception about sharing your career wins is that it’s bragging. How do you do it without feeling awkward? Use this simple formula: 🎯 1️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 It’s not about forcing your achievements into every conversation—it’s about being intentional. The right moment can be: ☑️ A 1:1 with your manager to highlight progress on key projects ☑️ A mentorship session where you share recent growth or lessons learned ☑️ A networking event to connect your skills to opportunities ☑️ An in-person work mixer after a seminar (like I did after L&D events!)—casual moments can spark powerful connections 📈  2️⃣ 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 When sharing your accomplishments, follow this rule: Be Brief. Be Bright. Be Gone. Focus on these 3 things: ☑️ What You Did: Clearly state your role. No fluff, just the facts. ☑️ The Impact It Had: Quantify your success with metrics where possible. ☑️ Why It Matters: Connect the dots. How did it support the team, the business, or key goals? 🤝 3️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 The #1 reason people hesitate to share their wins? They’re afraid it makes them look self-centered. Visibility isn’t just for you; it’s a spotlight you can share. I do this by: ☑️ Shouting out teammates who helped make the project a success ☑️ Adding a “Recognition Slide” when presenting to other teams and leaders. ☑️ Tagging colleagues in my regional newsletter or giving digital recognition badges that notify their managers. When you work loud, you're not just amplifying your work- you are turning up the volume for your entire team. Working Loud isn't about ego —it’s about impact. Drop a “🔈” in the comments if you’re ready to try this formula to create new career opportunities! Part 3 of the #WorkingLoud series drops on Friday follow me Selchia Cain-Hinton to make sure you don't miss it. ✨

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

Have you ever felt uncomfortable speaking about yourself? It's a task that seems straightforward but often leaves us bouncing between oversharing our resumes or grappling with uncomfortable silence and awkwardness. I’ve spent a lifetime of being asked to introduce myself. If only I knew in the beginning what I know now... that these introductions carry more weight than I ever thought. First impressions turn in the minds of listeners: Are you confident? Capable? Overbearing? Smart? Warm? Someone fun to be around? Should they do business with you? All while you race to figure out what to say. There are many introductions that I left feeling like I wanted a redo lol. I want to share a few tips to help you navigate introductions with more confidence and less awkwardness about feeling like you're “bragging.” 1. Add a Personal Touch: Maybe a personal detail or hobby that's unrelated to work. 2. Practice Open Body Language: Your mind may be SCREAMING that you have no clue what to say, but don't let your body language shut the interaction down. Practice open and inviting body language. 3. Include a Question: End your introduction with an open-ended question or a statement that invites further conversation. 4. Use Collaborative Language: It feels less like Bragging when you include others. Frame your achievements in terms of teamwork. 5. Balance Achievements with Aspirations: In addition to your accomplishments, mention areas where you're still growing or goals you're working towards. This can show humility, which goes a long way with most people. 6. Mindful Storytelling: Tell the story behind your achievements – the challenges, the teamwork, the learnings. This makes your journey relatable and less like a list of accomplishments.

You’re not invisible. You’re just not posting enough. And when you learn how to write "breadcrumb posts," that will change. Here's the breakdown: 67.5% of professionals my team and I surveyed miss out on this platform by not consistently showing up. I see it all the time. Talented professionals thinking, “I don’t have big wins to share.” Or, “I need more followers before I post.” (Sound familiar?) Meanwhile, I work with people who have less than 3,000 followers—and they’re earning $35,000 a month from LinkedIn. Yes, you read that right. $35,000. With a small, engaged audience. Here’s what I’ve learned: → The magic isn’t in going viral. → It’s in showing up with small, real stories. → That’s what I call the "David effect." We all see the Goliath moments: “How I got 70,000 followers in 90 days,” or “Closed a $300k deal in 30 minutes.” Those are fun to read, but—let’s be honest—most of us don’t have those stories. But here’s the truth: 1) Over 70% of US CEOs say they deal with imposter syndrome. If they feel it, we all can. (You’re not alone!) 2) Small wins are the numero uno driver of motivation—for you and your audience. In fact, Harvard found that 76% of people had their best workdays after a micro win. Not after a big win, but a small step forward. Truth: → Micro stories (not hero stories) build trust and connection. → Posts with personal stories get about 40% more engagement. → Micro-influencers (under 100k followers) see 7% engagement. Big accounts? Only 1.7%. I see this in my own week. Yesterday, I found an AI tool that saved me five hours building a slide deck. That’s a micro win! Not flashy, but super helpful. What counts as a micro win? • Rolled out a new process at work • Helped a client solve a sticky problem • Got a referral from a past client • Spoke up in a meeting • Learned something new These are all "breadcrumbs." They're snackable and they lead back to you and fortify your brand in your audience's mind. If you’re waiting for a big story, you miss your moments. The gap between your audience and “hero” results is too wide. People want to see the small, relatable stuff. When you start sharing micro wins, you: → Build momentum → Grow trust → Attract more sales Start learning out loud. Start earning out loud. (Save this to remember how to "breadcrumb your content")