Talent Acquisition Expert | ex-NBA | Executive Search Advisor | I help executives in sports land their dream jobs | Advocate for more Women Leaders
Have you ever heard of "Humor Bragging"? I was recently invited as a guest to the Women Leaders in Sports national convention in Baltimore, where 1300+ remarkable women from across sports gathered. I took part in the Executive Hiring Roundtable presented by the NCAA. During a roundtable I led, one question stood out: Won't I come across as arrogant if I talk about my accomplishments too much? Turns out, many women believed that highlighting their achievements felt like a deterrent rather than a differentiator. The mindset here is interesting but risky. When it comes to landing your next role, "humility" isn’t always your friend. And when you land that interview, holding back will only set you back. So what’s the solution? Humor Bragging. It’s a way to confidently showcase accomplishments with a hint of levity, easing any perception of arrogance while making your impact memorable. Here are a couple of examples: 1. Instead of “I led my team to record-breaking revenue,” try: “I may or may not have made my team enough money to make them question if I had a hidden stash of gold somewhere!” 2. Or swap “I managed a high-stakes project” for: “I herded 20 people through a high-stakes project without any casualties—just a few coffee spills along the way!” Consider using this approach if you're concerned about coming across as "too much." Remember, the competition won’t hold back, and neither should you. ------ For more on Humor Bragging, feel free to look up the study titled ?"The Humor Advantage: Humorous Bragging Benefits Job Candidates and Entrepreneurs." by researchers Nir Halevy, Jieun Pai and Eileen Y. Chou