In today’s workplace, each day employees are
facing so many challenges and the learning gained such challenges makes a
better professional. Who doesn’t like to have an expert in his team? This
creates a space for specialists and experts with whom the leaders consult and
assign the most important & critical tasks. This gives an opportunity to
learn more. So it becomes a vicious circle for those who are open to face
challenges and to learn from the experiences.
But let me ask you a simple question, how
confident are you in explaining your key strengths in public? In my recent
instance of me as an interviewer, I asked one such question to the candidate,
‘tell me about your 2 key strengths which will enable you to perform better in
the position you’ve applied for?’ The candidate was blank. I asked him the
question again. With a lot of shyness in his face, he asked another question to
me, ‘sir, won’t it feel like boasting, if I tell about my strengths?’
This counter question from the candidate
actually evoked a thought in me; will it be construed as boasting if I speak
about myself in public? Such a situation often happens in many a places during
the regular course of duty in today’s workplace. Self-promotion can make many
people uncomfortable. But even for many professionals, it’s a tricky prospect.
How do you ensure that when you speak of your strengths, your talent is
recognized and not considered as self-boasting?
The first step in achieving this is to understand
yourself. In order to speak in front of many people about yourself, you should
be clear on what are the areas you’re good at and what needs improvement. It
may be called as reinventing yourself. One may use reflective techniques,
self-analysis or get the help of a good friend or a family member for the same.
However, you should watch out for a common error in this. Go by the realities
of the facts rather than perceptions or interpretation.
Secondly, one should lookout for the real value
of self-promotion. When you promote yourself in the right way, it’s a win-win.
No one in the present world have all life’s time to fully understand your
interests, talents, and skill set. It would make the life of the other person
easier to understand clearly about you as a person and make informed decisions.
Thirdly, when you speak about yourself, focus
on the facts rather than a judgemental statement. Rather than saying, I’m a great
salesman, one might say that I am passionate in sales and do close follow-up
with my customers and perform XYZ activities and I have achieved results which
is considered best in the industry. But they can argue plenty if you call
yourself a “great sales man”.
Fourth,
you need supporting stories from your life which would act as evidences for the
statement you make. However you need to be cautious that the story you tell is
relevant and authentic.
Quote1:
Self-promotion
works best when it’s natural and unforced
Unquote
Most
importantly, while explaining your story you need to sound crisp but humble.
More often, people when faced by such a situation stay awestruck for the fear
of getting isolated or alienated But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Instead,
Self-Branding will help you understand yourself better as a person and would enable
others to know which are your core strengths and utilising the same in the best
interest of both parties.
“If you don’t tell good about yourself, then
who would..!”
