How to master the art of self promotion (without bragging)

‘Personal brand’: two words that make any self-respecting Brit squirm, almost as much as ‘elevator pitch’.

Self-promotion is a murky area. No one wants to be a bragger, but in an age where everyone Googles you before any job interview, business link-up or date, we need to know how to do it.

‘There are a lot of brilliant people who have great ideas, but lack the confidence or understanding of how to get up and push themselves forwards,’ says Peter Mosley, confidence coach, author of The Art of Shouting Quietly and self-confessed ‘shy person’.

Thankfully to get ahead you don’t need to loiter around a corporate mixer with a sweaty handful of business cards. ‘The other way is being yourself and developing your own story – according to your own values, not anyone else’s,’ Mosley explains. Here are his five rules on how to big yourself up and stand out in a crowd, without cringing yourself out.

1. Find your thing

‘Differentation is all important, so figure out your own unique definition of success and pursue that; the original seed of potential – what was there before pressure from parents or teachers,’ says Mosley. Struggling to find yours? Try Mosley’s reverse timeline.

‘Think back chronologically about everything you valued and events that stood out and write them down. You’ll find creativity you left behind, or that has been masked by career pressure. And remember creativity is not just about making products – it’s in being a great baker or party host too,’ he explains.

2. Get it down

Next, think about your core values like the writing you see through a stick of rock. ‘Think of someone you really admire – a family member, local leader or business person and think about them personally. What is it about them you really admire and resonate with? These should help you identify what really matters to you,’ says Mosley.

3. Go pro

Turns out you can use social media for something more productive than cat memes and selfies. ‘Rather than talking about yourself, become a thought leader by posting links to research or really interesting stuff regularly and consistently,’ says Mosley. ‘It doesn’t matter if you’re interesting in baking or dogs, by weaving your own story into this stuff you will come across as more authentic and get more followers.’

4. Shut up and listen

Forget the tired, me-first approach to networking events. ‘Ask more questions to create rapport, it’s much easier than feeling the pressure of having to talk about yourself,’ explains Mosley. ‘Focus on collecting business cards rather than giving them out, and make a decision later about who to follow up on a one-to-one basis.’

5. Push yourself (in private)

‘I’m a big fan of getting out into the stretch zone, but it’s important not to practise in critical situations,’ advises Mosley. Practise that pitch with a small group of friends or lead a workshop before you sign up for a TED talk.

Check out Pete’s TED talk on creativity below:

And when the big event does come, feel the butterflies and do it anyway. ‘All the great talkers tell me they are still scared, but those fears are familiar. They have taken time to know what feelings are associated with what they’re doing, and are well-practised enough to get over them.’

Time to refresh your Twitter feed, then make a date with your mirror and your hairbrush mic.

What are your best tips for getting ahead at work? Tweet and tell us @healthymag or share on our Facebook page

Photography: 4thoffice.com | Pinterest