Creativity and Self-promotion

Before we start - You will have to go a very long way until you reach the point of overdoing the self-promotion.

and...

I know there is something slightly wincey about self-promotion, it’s all a bit distasteful and brash...

Please put that to one side for the moment and read on. Firstly, you might not like it, but you need to deal with it and be good at it. Secondly, you probably haven’t got a self-promotion plan or process, so at best it is amateur hour.

?

Why Team and Self-Promotion Matters

We all have peaks and troughs, that’s normal, but when you hit a peak it’s worth celebrating and sharing. However, the chances are you just carry on, because that’s your normal. The peaks will then only be seen by those around you who are directly affected. The wider organisation will never experience them or learn about them and the positive impact will be limited to your close circle.

If you don't put those wins out there, and share them, you're doing yourself, your team and your wins a disservice.

I SEE THIS EVERYWHERE I GO.

Every time I speak with people I find something they are doing that deserves wider communication. People either hide or don’t recognise their successes.

This happens so often I’ve got to the point where if I cannot find anything exceptional, I’m either not asking the right questions or I’m speaking too much.

Self-promotion is not about arrogance; it's about sharing so that the value can be replicated and multiplied across your organisation and beyond. The by-product is influence, recognition and pride. These are all good things!

So why does it not happen, if it is so obvious?

?

Overcoming Hurdles: Building Confidence and Self-Belief

A lack of confidence or self-belief is always in there somewhere. We're afraid of seeming boastful or egocentric. However, promoting your work is about demonstrating your enthusiasm and belief in your creations, not about bragging.

?To build your confidence, start by recognising your achievements and the value they bring.

?Keep a record of your successes, both big and small. Jot down what went well today or yesterday, it will get you in the swing of capturing your wins.

?Start small - Share them with friends, mentors, or colleagues who will be naturally interested. Likewise, ask them about their wins.

?Remember that self-promotion is a skill, and like any skill, it can be developed over time by practice and habit.

??However, if you struggle to find things to record as successes, let that be a kick to motivate you to stop freewheeling and start succeeding. If you have nothing to jot down make time to do something that will go in the book tomorrow.

?

Dealing with Naysayers

Fear of what others might say can be paralyzing.

It's natural to be concerned about how you'll be perceived, but don't let these worries hold you back. They are 99% in your head and nowhere else.

Having said that Naysayers do exist and if naysayers do surround you – address this straight away. Avoid them and move on or help them move on. Do not have naysayers in your life. If you are a naysayer address it and if necessary get help.

Moving on.

I’ve written over 100,000 words on LinkedIn and had nearly 800k post views over the last couple of years – I’ve only had 2 slightly negative comments. The fear of criticism is vastly exaggerated in your head.

Remember, like you most people are busy and 99 times out of 100 if they don’t like what you put out they just scroll on.

?

What Self-Promotion is actually about

Self-promotion isn't a self-serving act rooted in ego; it's a strategic and purposeful set of actions. In the context of the world of work, self-promotion is about sharing your accomplishments and contributions in a way that benefits both you, your team and the organisation.

It serves several essential purposes:

1. Career: Self-promotion ensures that your work doesn't go unnoticed. Working in a competitive professional landscape, being visible is crucial for your career and potential opportunities.
2. Advancement: By capturing and communicating your skills and achievements, you increase your chances of career progression. This is a FACT. Your organisation and your line manager are more likely to recognise your value and consider you for promotions or exciting opportunities.
3. Influence: Self-promotion helps you build influence and standing within your industry. It establishes you as an expert or thought leader in your area. This influence will be useful to you, your team and the organisation.
4. Team Building: Self-promotion isn't just about you; it should also positively impact your team. By highlighting your team's accomplishments, you inspire people around you and lift them up.

?

These are important things so you need a plan, a programme and some measurable outcomes.

??Keep it simple. Your aims and objectives, who, what, when, where and how plus a timeline of actions and outputs. ?If you want a template of contents and headings DM me.

?

Tips to help you on your Self-Promotion journey.

1. Capture your success: You need content. Content is king. You need successes or learning to communicate. Look back and capture past successes and look forward to positioning what is in the pipeline and how that can feed your future successes. You need to gather promotional material – so start looking for it and if it’s sparse, start doing things that will create it.
2. Share your work: Share your knowledge. Many people hoard their knowledge because of the perceived sense of power it can bring. Don’t be that person (or that Department) Don't be shy about showcasing what you do, how you do it and also your knowledge and creations.
3. Tell your story: Craft a compelling narrative around your work. You have to produce output. Produce Board papers, Case Studies and Fact Sheets. Highlight the problems you've solved, the value you've added, and the lessons you've learned. ChatGPT can help you make a start.
4. Leverage social media: Use more than one platform to share your ideas and connect with a different and broader audience. Amend and adapt then recycle. I’m bad at this I only engage with LinkedIn and don’t even put stuff on our Internal Intranet – note to self!
5. Network and collaborate: Build relationships with other Depts, contribute to Task Teams and link with like-minded individuals who can amplify your message and help you reach a wider audience. Engage with your networks by commenting on, liking, and sharing relevant content.
6. Seek a mentor: This is important….Find a mentor or coach who can guide you in your self-promotion journey. They can provide valuable advice and insights. They can sense check things before you go public. They will hold your feet to the fire when you need to be encouraged. One post, and one report is not enough – you need to be consistent.

?

How to Self-Promote Effectively

Self-promotion involves a delicate balance between confidence and humility. That is why it is hard to get right.

??RULE NUMBER ONE. Don’t overdo it. No one likes a smart ass or the big I AM.

Here's how to go about it:

1. Be Genuine: Authenticity is key. When sharing your work, be sincere and enthusiastic about its impact. It has to be real there is nothing worse than empty self-praise.
2. Showcase Value: Focus on the value your work brings to your organisation and industry. Explain how you have solved problems, improved processes, or created opportunities. Always think about what value the recipient is going to get from seeing or reading this content. Set the bar to get over based on what you would like to receive.
3. Targeted Sharing: Choose the right channels and tailor your self-promotion efforts to your audience. Different platforms = different styles. Choose the most effective means to reach your target audience. Don’t limit yourself to just one audience!
4. Consistency: Self-promotion should be an ongoing effort, not a one-time event. Regularly update your network on your latest achievements and experiences. I’ve seen people get it so right, make a great impact and then inexplicitly just disappear again to be forgotten. Start and keep going.
5. Engage with Others: Interact with your internal network. Respond to comments, offer support to your colleagues, and engage in meaningful conversations. Building relationships is a part of self-promotion.
6. Leverage Data and Results: If possible, use quantifiable data to support your claims. Metrics and results provide evidence of your impact and can make your self-promotion more convincing. People love numbers. Collect them and use them.
7. Quality Communication: Nail these 4 things in every communication. 1 - What do you want people to know, 2 - ?what do you want them to understand, 3 - tell them how they should feel about it, and finally, 4 - what to do or the next steps.

?

What to Avoid in Self-Promotion

While self-promotion is essential, there are also some ‘Never’ events:

1. Exaggeration: Never overstate your accomplishments or using hyperbole. Be honest and transparent about your achievements. Believable, real and true.
2. Neglecting Team Contributions: Never forget to credit everyone - your team and collaborators. Acknowledging their contributions not only promotes a collaborative culture but also enhances your and their credibility. This is a golden rule.
3. Monopolising Conversations: Never overdo the self-promotion. Remember it’s always better to be interested, not interesting. Also you have two ears and one mouth use them in those proportions. Balance self-promotion with discussions about others' accomplishments and industry trends. Everything has a time and place – don’t be a bore.
4. Bragging: Never brag. Self-promotion should be about sharing your work's value, not about bragging. Share something of value to the receiver, not you the sender – Empathy. Ensure your communication is humble and gracious.
5. Ignoring Feedback: Never dismiss feedback. A two-way flow and debate is always enlightening., use it to refine how you work and communicate.

?

Now over to you. Ask yourself some hard questions.

??Do you think you undersell your Team and yourself?

The answer is Yes. What are you going to do about it? If you are unsure if you undersell: Ask yourself, How often do you actively sell the achievements of your team or yourself? ?Is it enough? Is it a priority?

?

One of the biggest questions is the simplest.

??Do you actually know what success looks like?

Don’t scoff at this question, most people don’t recognise their own successes, because it is their norm. Is that true of you?

?

Such a fascinating subject, and we haven’t even talked about how self-promotion fits into your personal branding and purpose!...I’m going to have to leave that with you.