Many people find it difficult to talk about themselves without feeling as though they're bragging. If you shy away from promoting yourself appropriately you may be significantly hindering your level of success when it comes to getting a new job or securing promotion.

Marketing Matters

Being able to 'sell yourself' and promote your successes is a vital component in building a strong business, and the same goes for your career. So how can you talk about what makes you great without feeling like you're boasting? Here are 3 top tips to tactfully get your message across and promote yourself effectively...

Tip 1. Focus On Value

When you can assign value to the work you've done or the accomplishments you've achieved it's easier to talk about your experiences, and by focussing on tangible results you will avoid sounding as though you're purely bragging. Concentrate on talking about the goals you've achieved, how you have benefited the team or company you're working for, and how you've helped increase revenue or save money. Being able to assign real-life outcomes to your experiences is much more impactful and adds credibility.

For example, rather than saying "I'm an excellent Project Manager" which is very subjective, you could say "In my role as Project Manger I successfully completed the XYZ project on time, and within budget, saving the company $X...".

Tip 2. Have The Right Attitude

Self-promotion is a key ingredient in creating a successful career but all too often we sabotage ourselves by assuming that people won't be interested in what we do or our achievements. Having confidence in your abilities, and happily talking about them is an important attitude to have and will ensure that you consciously let others know about your accomplishments. The more people know about you and your abilities, the greater the chances are of you achieving your goals.

What are you proud of? What qualifications or skills have you achieved? What awards have you won? How have you helped your community? Take a moment now to think about your key achievements over the last few years and make sure you're talking about these when you're networking and in interviews. Be confident in your achievements and be vocal in letting people know about them.

Remember: If you don't talk about your achievements you probably won't get noticed so don't rely on other people to promote you - it's your own personal responsibility.

Tip 3. Accept Praise

When someone gives you a compliment how do you react? Do you play down your achievements, saying something like "anyone could have done that" or "it's nothing"? Or do you accept the praise and graciously say "thank you"? In confidently talking about the things that make you a fabulous new hire or a great person to network with, make sure that you are ready to accept praise professionally and without self-depreciating.

Think about it - when a company like Apple or Nike bring out a new product and they're congratulated on it, do you think their marketing team turns around and say "oh, it's nothing" or "we could have done better"? Of course not, and neither should you. Your personal branding is just as important, and you need to approach your marketing efforts in the same light. Be proud of your achievements and allow people to congratulate you on them.