Award-winning broadcaster and author Tonya Fitzpatrick always knew “come hell or high water” she would become a lawyer.  She did just that, and enjoyed an appointment as a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, and also served under a federal defense contract as the Senior Legal Advisor for the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. But her dissatisfaction with her legal career and the political environment in Washington, DC confirmed that she was ready for a change. Traveling has always allowed Tonya to reconnect with herself and her passion for travel. Her desire to live a purposeful life led her to reinvent her avocation and make it her career. Read Full Story

One of my pet peeves is when a client or student of mine talks about getting their degree from a particular university or college. This nomenclature is everywhere from professional bios to all forms of media. The last time I checked, schools were not giving out degrees to just anyone who walked across the stage at graduation. Degrees are earned with hard work, diligence, and years of effort.

I encourage you to re-arrange your mental furniture when it comes to earning verses getting in the professional world as well. You are in control of how people perceive you in the workplace or job search arena based on your professional behavior. Change your mindset and be clear about the accomplishments you have earned. Become the professional that can talk about your successes with humble confidence and inspire others with your ability to self promote in an appealing way.

This technique of telling your story will come in very handy at a job interview or performance evaluation and it can be extremely helpful when you are making a proposal or enticing a new client to utilize your services. After all, you want to hear about how a business is successful before you buy their product or hire their services.

As customers, we expect references, referrals and professional bragging about relevant successes before we buy-in to a pitch or a sale. We can learn the same lessons as individuals in the job search arena or as experienced professionals looking to move up in an organization. It’s time to own your accomplishments and help others understand how you achieved your successes. Telling these authentic stories helps others see your transferable skills and competencies and gives you credibility in the world-of-work.

Take credit for what you have earned and project your humble confidence. You work very hard to accomplish great things, so own these accolades!

It’s not enough to just do your job well anymore.  Professionals need to distinguish themselves in the workplace in order to earn promotions and recognition within an organization. Entrepreneurs have to take control of their own career advocacy to be noticed and stay competitive in the marketplace.  The art of self promotion is a necessity but walking the line between humble confidence and inflated ego can be difficult.

Here are some strategies to help you get more recognition on the job:

1) Be a Social Butterfly - Don’t just work in isolation. You need to socialize with people, have emotional intelligence, and social awareness in your organization. Your visibility at work is just as important as your competency. Your positive attitude will take you places and colleagues at all levels of the organization should be aware of what you are accomplishing for the company.

2) Understand Company Culture - It is very important that you understand the culture of your organization. It’s all about how you fit in and assimilate into that environment. You don’t need to change who you are but it is about molding yourself and identifying the potential to grow your career. Company culture ranges from wardrobe style and quitting time at the end of a work day to going above and beyond for a special project. Adapting to your firm’s culture will empower you to be recognized as a team player.

3) Develop an Expertise - In addition to having a broad span of transferable skills, develop a niche skill that is unique in the company and you will quickly become the go-to person for this much needed proficiency.

4) Embrace Your Humble Confidence - Nobody likes an egotistical bragger but if you can learn to talk about the accomplishments you earned with humble confidence you will quickly become an asset to your organization. It’s necessary to be able to talk about what you do well in performance reviews so keep a record of what you have accomplished during a given time period and be ready to discuss this if your boss asks what you are doing, at any time.

4) Be a Team Player - You can rarely accomplish anything solo in an organization. Being a team player not only provides you a holistic picture about the task but also helps you broaden your skill set. Team work is an opportunity to be connected to people from other groups and divisions in your organization. This enhances your chances to move up in your company and increases your visibility throughout the organization.

5) Network, Seek Feedback, and Have Mentors – Build your personal Board of Directors at work and seek feedback and constructive criticism regularly. Don’t wait for a performance review to ask for pointers; be pro-active and seek out mentors within and beyond your organization.

6) Make an Impact - The impact can be on the company’s bottom line or significant work you do in the community. Be an influencer; give back or pay-it-forward to ramp up your visibility at work.

You are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your career self promotion. Learning to be your own best advocate will help you achieve your goals within an organization and beyond. It takes practice and a conscious mindset, but the art of self promotion is doable for all.