- Emily Barber
- Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Self-promotion hesitancy is unwillingness or inability to talk about your achievements and goals, especially under pressure. Self-promotion hesitancy can come from many mindsets, such as fear of sounding arrogant, disdain for bragging, or a genuine belief that you aren’t worthy of praise. Your background and environment – things like upbringing and workplace culture – are external factors that can contribute to an unwillingness to toot your own horn.
How can self-promotion hesitancy affect you?
Aversion to self-promotion can affect anyone, but it affects women more often than men in a variety of situations, according to a 2019 study from Harvard Business Review. Across several competency tests in various situations, men and women performed equally well, but men were overconfident in their results whereas women were underconfident by a gap of 33%. In areas of the test that simulated business decisions based solely on individuals’ self-reporting, people who rated themselves higher were more likely to receive benefits. This indicates that, regardless of actual performance, people who practice self-promotion are at an advantage when it comes to job offers, promotions, compensation, and professional development.
Self-promotion hesitancy can be linked to imposter syndrome, an ongoing fear that you don't deserve your accomplishments and could be exposed as a fraud at any moment. Researchers Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Dr. Suzanne A. Imes published findings on “the imposter phenomenon” specifically among high-achieving women in 1978, and additional research over time has shown that people from various marginalized groups are more likely to exhibit consistent self-doubt regardless of their competence.
Sometimes it’s not you, it’s them.
Lots of discussion around self-promotion, imposter syndrome, and related challenges ignore intersections of gender, race, disability, and other characteristics that can affect how someone operates in the workplace. According to Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey, writers who work in equity and diversity, the problem lies not within individuals struggling to build self-confidence, but instead in an overall workplace culture that recognizes and rewards only a fraction of employees. “Rather than focus on fixing imposter syndrome, professionals whose identities have been marginalized and discriminated against must experience a cultural shift writ large,” they wrote in February 2021.
We should all work to cultivate inclusion, celebrating all the different ways that people are productive and valuable. But none of us can achieve this alone, and you might find yourself in a workplace that ignores or diminishes what you bring to the table. Some of the forthcoming tips will still be useful for maintaining confidence in spite of a narrow-minded environment, but perhaps the best use of your self-promotion skills will be to get out of a dead end. Sometimes it’s not you, it’s them.
How can you get better at self-promotion?
Whether your self-promotion hesitancy comes from introversion or an unsupportive work environment or somewhere else entirely, the way you advocate for yourself should be authentic. In Brag Better: Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion, Meredith Fineman says to “focus on finding the perfect middle ground – phrases primed for bragging success combined with your own words that will express what you want to be known for.” Here are some strategies to help you get better at talking yourself up:
1. Set measurable goals – This might be the most common success tip in history, but for self-promotion purposes, you’ll have a slightly different view of your goals. The point is not the goal itself, but instead a fact-based view of your accomplishments. When you have specific measurements of your contributions, it’s easier to remind yourself and others of your competence.
2. Keep a record – Ongoing documentation goes hand-in-hand with your measurable goals and includes less quantifiable evidence. Got a praise-filled email from a client or coworker for a certain project? Save it for your next performance evaluation. Keeping a record will also help you identify strengths and build an understanding of how to best use your skills.
3. Create a big-picture strategy – Sometimes it’s easiest to work backwards. When you know where to want to end up, whatever the time frame, you can get more specific about what to focus on now. Fineman says the key pieces of your strategy include “being clear on what you want, knowing your audience, and doing the prep work to get it.”
4. Practice – Outside evaluations or interviews, there are plenty of opportunities to build your confidence and reputation. You can start small by chatting with coworkers or friends, warming up for more serious self-advocating. Getting someone else’s perspective can also highlight strengths or accomplishments you missed.
Throughout Brag Better, Fineman says to be loud and proud, a combination that’s often discouraged in the workplace. To reap the full benefits of self-promotion, you've got to break yourself of habits and mindsets that don’t serve you. Sharing about your accomplishments isn’t arrogant; advocating for recognition, professional growth, and fair compensation is something that can help others as well as yourself.
To learn more about self-promotion, check these out...
Brag Better: The Art of Fearless Self-Promotion
Meredith Fineman
The Truth About Sucking Up and Selling Yourself Without Selling Out
Gina Hernez-Broome
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