In their CIO article Selling Yourself Without Selling Out, authors Gina Hernez-Broome, Cindy McLaughlin, and Stephanie Trovas really hit it when they wrote:
Most IT professionals aren’t comfortable with the concept and practice of self-promotion. They view it with derision, as a personal public relations campaign, a way of shouting “Look at me! I’m the best!” Because IT professionals traditionally see their value in making the machinery of a workplace run smoothly, they expect their work to speak for itself.
While it can be uncomfortable, you have to realize that there’s nothing wrong with letting people know what you’re working on and the successes you and your Team are having. Always a good strategy, it could be particularly helpful to broadcast your value in these tight and layoff prone economic times.
Also writing in CIO, Self-Promotion at Work bolsters the view your boss needs to know your value.
“1.2 million people are out of work, and it’s only going to get worse,” says ( communication and leadership expert Peggy) Klaus. “You need to let people know what it is that you’re doing, the success you’re having, the obstacles you’ve overcome, the projects you’re completing, so that when those layoffs are being contemplated, you come to mind as a person they need to retain.”
“Your bosses aren’t psychic,” says Klaus. “Bosses tell me, ‘I have 70 people I oversee. I don’t know what each one is doing. They need to let me know.”
In addition to the strategies offered in these articles, take a look at Rajesh Setty’s manifesto 25 Ways to Distinguish Yourself at ChangeThis.com. There are some jewels there that will help you stand out from the crowd.
Tags: Self-Promotion
