Your work won't speak for itself. Here's how to talk up your achievements without that ick feeling.

"I've over time come to accept that this value of humility I was raised with is outdated," Michael Rain told me in my latest podcast interview. "It does not serve." He's not wrong. In a professional world ruled by digital and social media, people who make sure their work is known, get more opportunities. It's a fact.

"That's not to say people should be boastful, loud or braggadocious," Michael adds. "But you should not be silent about your skills and your accomplishments, especially when you are in situations where you're being evaluated. Because all you're doing is shooting yourself in the foot."

I bet you can think of someone in your industry who's always out there talking, and if you're honest, you don't even think they're that good. But everyone knows their name.

"What happens is over time, those are the people who end up getting the most success, therefore in more positions of power," Michael warns. "And then you just have this group of humble people still waiting around to be recognised for their work."

Ironically it would serve us all if the most humble people would get over it and show off a little. That's who we need to see rise if we hope to introduce more thoughtfulness, diversity, and yes humility, in corporate culture. But it's a very unnatural posture for most.

For immigrants like Michael and I and for anyone who's grown up in a culture that values humility and recognises collective successes over individual ones, this import of American capitalism feels especially uncomfortable. For years I managed a worldwide team of editors and inevitably, when came time to write a report for US bosses or a self-review for a promotion, they demurred. Surely the work should speak for itself, no? Actually, no. Work is mute.

And let's be honest: it's not just immigrants who are uncomfortable. It's not just women. We all mostly hate it.

You can do it though, and do it as yourself. Nobody needs you to become a loud braggart. Here are a few recommendations I shared with my team and with the hundreds of LinkedIn Influencers and creators I coached over the years, and some kindly shared by my professional community.

You're not boasting, you're helping

A shift in perspective is a good place to start. Instead of looking at it as serving yourself, consider that you may well know things that are helpful to others. Sharing your knowledge and the solutions you've found to problems others surely have too is a public service. Why should you alone enjoy the fruits of your experience? That's selfish. Sharing is caring.

You don't have to have the answers; you can also seek them

You don't always have to talk about your successes. Sharing things that haven't worked or simply asking questions and starting a conversation, internally or on social media, shows you're engaged, knowledgeable about your field and smart enough to know what you don't know. I'd hire that person.

Find allies and build each other up

Another way to work around the issue is to talk about other people's achievements and trust them to talk about yours. This can be a formal agreement with a colleague. The women of the Obama administration were famous for consciously using a technique called amplification , repeating a colleague's idea with credit when she had been talked over to ensure her contributions were recognised. You can similarly ask your teammate to highlight your contributions as they respond to an email thread while you bring them up in your next one-on-one. If you're a solo creator, consider building a circle with other entrepreneurs where you post about one another's newsletter or trade ads on your podcasts.

It can also be quite informal. Make it a habit to share other people's work simply because you admire it. Others will usually return the favour, and you'll be known as a trustworthy curator.

Collect recommendations and testimonials

Make it a habit to request feedback and ask if it's ok to publish it on your website. (My own professional site – you can hire me btw – is full of teammate recommendations and audience kudos.) Get testimonials from regular customers and ask for referral letters when you move on from a job. Confession: I keep a folder of screenshots of positive comments I've received on social media over the years. We all need a little self-esteem booster sometimes. Believe me, on a tough day, it's better than a pint of ice cream. Sarah's tweet here will probably make the folder...

Nobody sees you as much as you do

Here's another one for perspective. You might feel you're overdoing it, but once it's gone through the filter of social algorithms, the Updates tab on gmail and the 27,832 unread emails in your boss's inbox, most of what you share isn't seen. After months of producing my podcast, I learned my own cousin had no idea what I was up to. I thought I had flooded social media about it, but it somehow hadn't got to him. So I blasted an email to my extended family. Later on a call with one of my most faithful listeners and paying subscribers – did I mention you can support Borderline here? – I apologised for giving the audience whiplash, constantly changing the podcast's visual identity I was unhappy with. He hadn't even noticed.

You have your nose in your own work. Nobody sees it as much as you do. Nobody cares as much either. You can be discouraged by that or accept it. You need to overdo it for word to get through. Added benefit: it also means no one sees your blunders as much as you fear.

Just get over it

Accept you're good at what you do. Banish your internalised shame. Acknowledging your worth is the work of a lifetime, but maybe you can start with an email to your boss about that great thing you did. Boosting your self-esteem doesn't require one-upping anyone else. Recognise your skill and it'll be much easier recognising skill in others. Everyone wins.

Or there's always the option of scurrying in darkness and letting others shine.

Are you comfortable promoting your own work or do you find it all too boastful? How do you get over your hesitations and embrace the spotlight? Please share your own recommendations in the comments.

This post came out of a conversation with entrepreneur and storyteller Michael Rain on the latest episode of Borderline, my podcast about lives lived across borders . Make sure to listen, follow, and consider chipping in a few bucks to help keep it on the (digital) air. www.borderlinepod.com