Tactics for Shameless Self-Promotion at Work

“Today, more than ever before, it’s important that those who are in a position to benefit your career know who you are and what you’ve accomplished,” says John M. McKee, author of Career Wisdom–101 Proven Ways to Ensure Workplace Success. He’s put together a list of “shameless self-promotion” tactics he recommends to help establish a positive high profile and let others know about your achievements “but in a way that is not construed as bragging or conceit.” McKee, who works predominantly with women executives, recently spoke with The Glass Hammer about the ins and out of implementing such tactics.

Capitalize on Fortuitous Chance Meetings

As we have reported many times on The Glass Hammer, having an elevator speech—a two- or three-line message about your contributions— is an important first step in self-promotion according to McKee. “Being in an elevator with someone is a great chance. If you know who they are, it is a great opportunity to introduce yourself, using your name and department, thus increasing you get visibility. All you are trying to do is to get with anybody who is in a position to have impact on your career to know who you are and understand your contributions. Memorize your speech so you may capitalize on fortuitous chance meetings.” He adds, “Based on my experience with my female clients, women miss this opportunity more often then men because they tend to answer the [“how are you?”] question quite literally, sharing how they are personally, while guys use it as self-promotion. A guy in the same situation might just say ‘I’m just delighted with the way the project is going.’”

Take All Opportunities to Communicate

McKee emphasizes the need to over-communicate. “You want to assume that your boss is too busy to be tracking your every move and give you full credit [for what you’ve accomplished].” He adds, “Keep anyone who is in a position to help you move ahead well-apprised of what you are planning or currently working on. Take advantage of every legitimate opportunity to have face time with your direct superior or other decision makers inside the organization. The more people know you, and are aware of your projects and results, the better the chances of your name being suggested when new opportunities arise.”

One caveat: McKee reminds us that you need to consider your boss’s style when communicating to ensure that you don’t appear to bragging rather than simply reinforcing and recapping your accomplishments. “Some bosses like detail that would cause other people to scratch their eyes out.” McKee stresses the importance of actually talking with the decision makers rather than just shooting off an email. “Communicating in person whenever possible is imperative for success-seekers, no matter how intimidating or unaccommodating your boss may be. It is the way to make sure that someone gets the important information. You need to look him/her in the eye.” McKee even recommends Skype video conferencing if you or the boss is out of the office since it is similar to a face-to-face conversation and doesn’t cost anything.

Pace the Decision Makers

“We look to promote those with whom we are most comfortable,” says McKee. To create that level of comfort, he advocates that you should pace your boss: be in the office when their boss is in, including on evenings and the weekends, as that creates the opportunity for one-on-one time. “If your boss is a total workaholic, you will need to decide yourself how much energy you are willing to give. Make it a conscious decision.”

McKee also says one should do one’s best to show shared values with the boss, down to appearances. “Familiarity and comfort are key – if there is a choice between two executives and one of them looks and feels more like the rest of the team, it will have a positive impact on her. “

Don’t be a Glory Hog

McKee emphasizes that the communication and bonding with the boss should not be at the expense of the other team members, including those who report to you. “You shine brighter by sharing credit. Nobody likes a glory hog. One of the fastest ways for a subordinate to become disliked and disrespected by a boss is by taking the sole recognition for a team effort.”

Deliver. Deliver. Deliver. But If You Can’t, Discuss

Of course, McKee says you have to deliver the highest quality work product. But what about when your boss makes it difficult for you to do that, giving you an arbitrary or unclear goal? “When one is given an arbitrary goal, the key is communication – you must understand what will get you the ‘gold star’ at the end of the project. On the other hand, it is the boss’s prerogative to decide what is important and you have to make sure you are giving the boss what is asked for. Take responsibility; if you do fail, you should try to have a post mortem to discuss the failure and walk through where the process broke down. In business, it’s all about accountability. Bosses love those who keep in mind that they are there to perform a function, not come up with excuses as to why they couldn’t deliver results. If you have fallen short in a task, for whatever reason, admit it. Don’t use hollow-sounding excuses, but rather show that you take responsibility for the shortfall and are willing to “make good.”

Develop An Executive Presence

“I’m often brought into companies when they have a person without the right “feel”; for example, about how to dress, how to carry him/herself,” said McKee. He can’t stress enough how important awareness of the dress code (whether official or unofficial) is. “I see people who have been recently unemployed going into job interviews without checking on dress code, which is a negative right out of the gate. It’s about being conscious of where you are and where you want to go. You need to dress for next level up.” This also means arriving at work well rested. “Far too many people arrive at work –and those all-important meetings—tired, foggy and under-prepared, which hinders performance on all fronts. The turbulence of today’s workplace makes this an even greater issue. People are anxious about business and jobs. Whether it’s a group meeting conference room or a one-on-one sit down with your boss, the more rested and prepared you appear, the more likely you are to be seen as the one who is in the best position to perform what’s needed, now and in the future.”

Know Your Options

McKee highly recommends that you keep your options open by knowing what employment opportunities are available outside your company as well as by networking. With more functions being outsourced, “one has got to come to the realization that ‘my worth today is not same as years ago.’” There are still a lot of companies hiring/starting up today. If you don’t have any connections outside of your current company start to develop them both online and off. Attend industry events, read industry periodicals and online journals to be aware of changes.

The key is understanding where you want to go, says McKee. Then make a plan, and do it.