Do THEY Know What You've Done for Them Lately?
Today, I found a great article on self-promotion, from Harvard Management Communication Letter. Self-promotion is a fundamental expectation here, and virtually nobody is promoted unless his or her boss's boss knows all about what they do, and sees value in it. There's a fine line between being a pest, and doing what's best for your career.
Tom Krattenmaker is director of news and information at Swarthmore College, near Philadelphia, and shares his insight (lots more worth reading in the newsletter):
"Mastering the delicate art of selling yourself is critical to career success, but it isn't easy. Overdo the self-promotion, and you can get a reputation as a grandstander. But duck the limelight, and miss out on well-deserved plaudits.
The difference between right and wrong
Arch Lustberg, the author of How to Sell Yourself: Winning Techniques for Selling Yourself ... Your Ideas ... Your Message , sums up the difference between effective self-promotion and obnoxious boasting in one word: likability. ... "No one is going to buy your message or your idea," Lustberg says, "until first they buy you."
John, yet again finding the interesting points. It brought to mind a number of reviews on me where I have been told to quote, 'blow my own trumpet'. and yet when I compare that to advice elsewhere about 'making other people look good', I wonder.
I always view any piece of work as a team effort. In fact I rarely get to do anything self-initiated or on my own, at present.
When I discuss achievements it is mostly in terms of the team or an individual within the team (BTW 'team' refers to people working on a proejct for me. I just like to refer to them as a team).
I would rather let the success speak for itself, but I guess I don't work in an environment where that does me any good. So should I change my behaviour?
I believe I should in that I need to add in pointers to my reponsibility and be more confident in who I am and what I can do.
I worked out I had deliverd something like 8 projects this year. I believe the revenue from them is over £10m p.a.
Anyone out there teach trumpet playing?
Posted by Paul Goodison at August 8, 2003 09:28 AM | TrackBack