3 Common Self Promotion Misconceptions to Nip in the Bud Sooner Rather than Later

Self promotion and profile building is right up there with networking - and most people would rather go to the dentist and have root canal surgery than do either. We somehow align both with the shifty used car sales tactics of yesteryear.

But unless you've been hidden in a mine shaft (and some of my clients literally are as they work in mining), or perhaps been in the fortunate position of never having to self promote because someone was doing it for you, then you will have read the headlines that doing good work is simply not enough in this day and age - especially with WFH the norm.

Never has self promotion been more important. In an era of personal branding, where it’s expected that leaders and C-level executives have a public profile, and where successful CEOs bring followings, those with leadership goals, but who don’t take personal branding seriously will be the ones missing out.

SO HOW DOES SELF PROMOTION HELP AND/OR HINDER?

Self promotion is a particularly murky area for women as we run the risk of being penalised by both men and women when we get it wrong or for merely breaching common social stereotypes. ?Bias, stereotypes, perception and other shady areas of grey all get muddled up - so we tend to avoid. ?

For men it's a little easier in terms of stereotyped assumptions.??However for those with deep subject matter expertise you still need to get out of the way of your expertise and learn to self advocate, self promote and articulate your expertise and experience in language the organisation understands and values.

Both women and men need to confidently articulate how their expertise/experience/results becomes a value add to an organisation in different ways to suit different audiences, over and over again, without sounding like a broken record. Easier said than done, but don't let that stop you.

Plus, it's not just great for you.??It will also ensure your business unit or division is seen, heard and valued as well.

SO WHAT ARE THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS??

Misconception #1 -?Build it and they will come

Remember the famous line from Kevin Costner's Field of Dreams???He had built a baseball stadium and people magically turned up from all over to attend simply because he built it.?

At a certain point in your career this strategy simply won’t work anymore.

In a highly competitive job market, where we confuse confidence with ?competence, you simply cannot afford to assume that people will see the value or commercial application of your experience or expertise.?

Misconception #2 -?Results should speak for themselves ?

In fact, results rarely speak for themselves and we have to speak to them. Awesome bombing, achievement dropping and progress reporting should be essential components of your executive career toolkit, yet in a way that navigates social norms and stereotypes.

We're all time and attention poor. Everyone is the protagonist in their own movie so not as invested your success and progress as they are in their own. Plus work is not school so your individual great results won't be necessarily be tracked and celebrated unless you take the lead.?

• Mistake 1 - assuming others are as invested in your own results and career as you are
• Mistake 2 - assuming others are great at interpreting your results
• Mistake 3 - assuming you don't need to do this

Misconception #3 - I've got great champions so I'll be okay

This is frequently one of the most common stories I hear from senior level clients. Up til now they've had great champions and sponsors, who smoothed their way. The downside is that they haven't learned to do this for themselves. So if/when their champion disappears (resigns, is made redundant or retires), the individual finds themselves exposed without having developed their own muscle, skill or confidence in self promotion.

EMPOWERED WOMEN MAKE A BIGGER DIFFERENCE

If you are a woman learning to self promote, yes it is a murky area. ?However you still need to do it if you want ensure you not only win the next raise or promotion more easily, but that your voice is heard within the business, and you that you have get to really make a difference.

As with any new skill, it will feel uncomfortable, you will make mistakes and it will take practice, so don't wait too late to start.? The smartest women I know get support as well.

"We can do hard things" Glennon Doyle

Developing competence and confidence around self promotion and building your profile, should be part and parcel of the career strategy for anyone serious about their career. ?

Remember - stay visible! And strategic.

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This article first appeared on the AmandaBlesing.com blog in 2017 but is just as relevant today, if not more so, due to WFH arrangements.

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Amanda Blesing is a highly sought after mentor, speaker and 2 x author on feminine ambition - how to spark it, tackle it and see it flourish. As a former CEO she understands the tightrope that many women walk on their pathway to the top in their quest to make a difference. Follow her, or check out her website at?www.amandablesing.com