Everyone has worked with a colleague who is so gifted at self-promotion that they leave the rest of their workmates in the dust.
From self-aggrandising LinkedIn posts extolling the virtue of their sheer work ethic, superior brain power and amazing business acumen, to in-office chat about what an amazing job they’ve just done on X, and how they’re currently smashing Y, this kind of pushy behaviour can be irritating at best, and rage-inducing at worst.
Of course, positive self-talk is important. It matters that we talk to ourselves kindly for a host of reasons: it’s good for our self-esteem, as well as stress management and overall wellbeing.
Equally, it does matter that you engage in some self-promotional behaviour at work. Sure, in an ideal world you’d be rewarded for all the excellent jobs you did quietly and un-dramatically; promotions and pay rises would rain down on you.
But before you polish your halo to a high shine, consider that sometimes people actually do need to know what you are working on, why it matters, and the impact it is having. This is known as authentic self-promotion, and there are specific reasons why you should embrace it.
You may be really talented––but that isn’t a clear path to recognition. Your high performance may be taken for granted unless you make your involvement known. And you should look to do that beyond your line manager: make your team aware of what you have to offer too––that way they’ll think of you when a specific task or project comes up.
Lastly, lean organisations need to employ and keep the best performers: you really want to ensure that this is you.
Dual promotion
There are other smart (and non-cringe) ways to shine a spotlight on your talents and achievements too. One of the most effective is what’s known as “dual promotion.”
It’s a type of better bragging that boosts you up––as well as a colleague. So where a self-aggrandising bragger will take full credit for the work they are boasting about, someone practising dual promotion will acknowledge their own part, and celebrate the achievements of an individual or their team, too.
According to a recent academic study on the subject, dual promotion works because “individuals can project both warmth and competence to make better impressions on observers than they do by only self-promoting.”
Self-promotion, by contrast, can actually backfire. “Broadcasting one’s past accomplishments or claiming credit to demonstrate competence, however, can harm perceptions of warmth and likability,” the authors say.
If you’re surrounded by relentless show-offs, and you’d like to start bragging better elsewhere, then The London Economic Job Board can help. It contains ample opportunities across many sectors––discover three of those below.
Partnership Manager (TrainPal), London, Trip.com Group, London
Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. As the Partnership Manager (TrainPal), you’ll be responsible for customer relationship and account management related to marketing activities, serving Trip.com’s TrainPal growth strategy in the EU as well as the UK market. You’ll analyse markets and define client development plans, with strategic development, monitoring and maintenance of local client partnership and profitability, also a part of this role. To be considered, you will need three years’ experience in the OTA industry, with a clear understanding of the operational processes/channel planning/market demands of European business. Find out more here.
Finance Business Partner, Northrop Grumman, London
A key member of the DOU Business Management team, working on national critical programmes, spanning maritime to future combat air, the Finance Business Partner supports contracts of work and their customers financially in a rapidly changing, growing and fast paced environment. The role is accountable for the accuracy and transparency of all financial aspects within a portfolio area, working alongside the programme function, and supporting several contracts simultaneously. Get full details.
Accounting Manager, Sperton Global AS, London
Sperton Global is seeking an Accounting Manager to oversee preparation of month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial statements. You will also review all month-end closing activities including general ledger maintenance, balance sheet reconciliations, and corporate/overhead cost allocation, and enhance and implement financial and accounting systems, processes, tools, and control systems. Plus, you’ll serve as a key point of contact for internal auditors to manage preparation and support of all audits, and oversee weekly cash management functions. You’ll need a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with a CPA or MBA preferred. Apply for this role now.
For more inspiration on your next career move, check out The London Economic Job Board