You want to develop and extend your personal brand but the thought of promoting yourself makes you cringe. This post is for you. I provide practical tips for promoting yourself without coming off as a jerk.
TBH I cringe when I think about promoting myself in any way (I know I'm not alone). It can be uncomfortable and feel like we're bragging. But if we want our message and brand to be seen and heard, it's crucial to get it out there.
I just facilitated one of my favorite workshops, “Your Leadership Brand”. It’s one of my favorite workshops to facilitate, partially because it's a good booster shot for me too.
Check out these tips for promoting yourself without coming off as a jerk.
Let's grow together!
Tip #1 - Know Your Audience
Take the time to tailor your approach and understand others' needs.
Understand what’s important to your target audience and the stakeholders that experience your leadership. What are their needs? How does your message and style align with that? You are who you are, but how you express your unique style and brand should flex for your audience.
Tip #2 - Focus on the FACTS!
Leave the interpretation up to the receiver
It’s ok to pump up the volume on the facts behind your expertise and achievements, but let others interpret those facts and come to their own conclusions about your awesomeness. Avoid overt claims to be a“guru”, “genius” or another over-the-top title.
Tip #3 - Tell Relevant Stories
Harness the magic of a good, well-placed story.
Stories have the special power to tap into our emotions- ultimately causing a deeper connection with your message. Harness that power, but be careful to make sure your message is relevant to the conversation. Nobody likes an attention hog or braggart.
Tip #4 - Express Humility
Be sensitive to the impact your message may have on others
Humility is not about hiding your abilities or being self-deprecating. It is about balancing your message to avoid stirring up negative emotions in others and not being too self-congratulatory.
Are you clear on your LEADERSHIP BRAND and how to promote it?
The first step is to spend time getting internal clarity around your aspirational brand- what type of leader do you want to be? Why? What’s the swag you bring to the table? What do you want to be known for?
From there, think about who needs to hear your message. What’s important to them? What are their needs? Then use these self-promotion tips to start expanding your influence.
Ready to build your leadership brand? Contact me for information about our next workshop and how you can get your free "leadership brand house" template.
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