Grow Your Career by Promoting Your Work

A key part to making the most of your career is making sure your boss and other people who can influence your career path are aware of the accomplishments you've made to the company. This way, when bonuses are handed out, when raises are given, and when promotions are offered, you will be a natural candidate for them. But how do you pull this off without seeming to be a self-promoting braggart?

Yahoo gives some advice on how to blow your own horn without being a blowhard. Their thoughts:

Talking about your work, your successes, and your team, the authors note, doesn't necessarily come across as bragging. Try describing what you've done in an informative way that might help others who are working on similar projects or wrestling with challenges you've figured out how to resolve.

Notes Hernez-Broome, "You need to find the 'sweet spot' between bragging and being overly modest. Stay focused on the value of the work." Like almost every other skill worth cultivating, this takes some practice.

For years now I've written a weekly update to my boss -- a simple bulletpoint email that details the highlights of this week's accomplishments, updates on key issues, and plans for the next week. It's done to keep him informed of where we are on major projects, but also serves as a way to list my accomplishments. For instance, when he reads, "We completed Project X this week. In the end, we saved a bit more than we thought, giving the company an extra $100k in cost reductions each year." Yes, it's a report. But it also demonstrates the accomplishment in a way that isn't bragging.

I keep a copy of each of these emails as well, then when review time comes along, I review them and select out the most important accomplishments. I summarize them and forward the list to my boss prior to my review being completed. (Just so he has all the facts when he's deciding on raises.) ;-)

Does it work? So far I'm averaging 9% compounded salary growth over the past 19 years. Sure, this isn't the only thing contributing to my results, but it certainly is helping.

For more on this topic, see these posts:

• Maximizing Your Greatest Asset: Why Your Career is So Important

• Create Your Brand at Work

• Is Your Image at Work Killing Your Career?

Comments

[Irina]

For people with blogs and self-employed: always remember that the media needs your opinions and experiences. Let them know what you think. (But first read a few books or blogs on how to do it right)

I always look for an opportunity to let the media know what I think on various issues or share my personal experiences.

As a result, in the last 3 years I had a number of feature stories written about me and my work (including one in Reader's Digest)

The return on such type of marketing is infinite because it is usually cost you zero dollars (only your time). I booked thousand of dollars in business from people who contacted me after they read about me.