Walking the Tightrope Between Owning Your Value and Boasting

Presentations Skills series And Leadership series. Because it's all in how you show up.?

The other day, a friend said to me, “I led the team, but they did all the work. I can’t claim credit for that.”

NONSENSE!

Leadership is all about enabling your team members to do their best work while you focus on ensuring the company gets the results it needs. This is a skill—claim it!

Do you shy away from acknowledging your achievements, worried it will come off as arrogant? If so, you're not alone. Many leaders, especially women, downplay their achievements because they fear sounding boastful. Then they resent the fact that their accomplishments go unnoticed.

The Fear of Self-Promotion

For many, the idea of talking about their accomplishments triggers deep discomfort. Women, in particular, face societal pressures to be humble. I grew up with my mother's motto in my head: “Good girls don’t brag.”

Sound familiar?

This leaves us with a constant struggle—how do we promote ourselves without feeling like we’re boasting?

The truth is, pride doesn't have to be boastful—it’s important for your visibility. Recognizing and sharing your successes is not only about self-esteem; it’s crucial for staying visible in your organization. If you’re always downplaying your work, no one will know the value you bring to the table.

My Own Story: From Opera Director to Executive Coach

In my previous career as an opera director, I was a gig worker. People loved working with me, and I had great relationships with the teams I led, but that wasn’t enough to secure future jobs. I still had to advocate for myself, which was often uncomfortable.

I wanted to be liked and fit in. I’d say, “Oh, it was nothing,” when someone complimented my work. But that self-effacing behavior made it harder for me to get noticed by decision-makers. After all, if I didn’t believe in the importance of my work, why should anyone else?

The problem is, by saying “it was nothing,” I began to believe that my work was worthless. That’s the trap—when we downplay our successes, we risk internalizing that we don’t deserve recognition.

Actionable Strategies to Own Your Success

How do you change this narrative? Here are three simple strategies:

1. Accept Compliments Gracefully When someone praises your work, resist the urge to downplay it. Instead, say “Thank you.” Take the compliment in, and remind yourself that your contribution matters.

2. Highlight the Impact When talking about your accomplishments, focus on how your work benefited the organization or your team. Did your leadership drive a successful project? Did your actions save the company time or money? Frame your achievements in terms of the value you provided.

3. Keep Your Receipts For an Annual Review, job interview, or when asking for a promotion, use specific examples to back up your claims. Concrete evidence helps you present your accomplishments in a confident, objective manner.

The Way Forward

There is a way to talk about your achievements without feeling arrogant. In my upcoming masterclass, I’ll teach you how to measure your contributions and present them strategically. You’ll walk away with a clear plan to showcase your value, so you’ll never have to guess what to say in a review again.

Are you ready to overcome the self-promotion struggle and own your leadership role? Claim your accomplishments unapologetically—you’ve earned them!

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Hi, if we haven't met yet, I’m Elizabeth Bachman, Presentation Skills Trainer, Executive Coach, and former International Opera Director.

I work with high-level executive women who “have a seat at the table” but still aren’t listened to.? Thus, they see promotions and recognition go to louder, flashier people.? (Sometimes people they have trained.)

I'm also the creator of Ace Your Annual Review on Friday, November 1st.

I help hundreds of leaders become Visible & Valued? so they get the raise, the promotion or the exciting new job that will give them the recognition they deserve.

“Shift the way you’re perceived by shifting the way you communicate.”

If you want YOUR voice to be heard, book a call at www.TalkToElizabeth.com .

No Selling.

Just Talk.

Learn more at https://elizabethbachman.com/