Self Promotion | Caroline Dowd-Higgins

Be Your Own PR Agent

May 8, 2011 By Caroline Dowd-Higgins Leave a Comment

Even though I count on my amazing Publicist, Stacey J. Miller’s expertise to promote my book, I still consider one of my most important tasks to be self promotion. I am always packing books, business cards, portfolios, and compelling stories about what I do and why it is valuable to potential clients, speakers bureaus, or organizations. I would miss out on so many new opportunities if I did not take on the responsibility to self promote.

Yet so many women I meet talk about humility and their discomfort in talking about their own accomplishments or their services, products, or abilities. I’m here to tell you that silence can be a career killer – you must learn to feel comfortable talking about yourself if you want to get ahead.

I encourage you to develop your personal press release so you have a conversational story at-the-ready to share when someone asks what are you working on? If you decline the chance to sing your own praises when someone asks, you may miss out on a terrific new break.

My humble confidence philosophy rings true in this scenario as nobody likes an obnoxious bragger. But you can strut your professional stuff and still hold your head high if you do it in a way that is palatable and appealing.

Be sure to talk about your accomplishments in the workplace beyond your immediate department or division. Good news doesn’t always travel upward and the powers that be rarely hear what’s happening in the ranks. Don’t wait for scheduled performance reviews either – be seen and heard regularly so the company higher ups can identify talented players.

Articulate your goals and aim high when given the chance to tell your story to those in-the-know. It may be challenging to take on your own public relations campaign but it will get easier with practice. In this competitive career world, being your own PR agent is not an option but a necessity. Step out of your comfort zone and focus on results. You have the power to create your own career destiny if you are willing to broadcast your own message.

Filed Under: Career Wisdom Tagged With: humble confidence, message, PR, promote, self promotion

Earning Verses Getting

April 28, 2010 By Caroline Dowd-Higgins 1 Comment

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!

Filed Under: Career Wisdom Tagged With: earn, humble confidence, self promotion

The Art of Self Promotion

April 26, 2010 By Caroline Dowd-Higgins 2 Comments

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.