Talking about your achievements without sounding like you’re bragging can be a fine line to walk, especially for executives in career transition. Whether you’re networking, interviewing, or updating your LinkedIn profile, sharing your accomplishments effectively is essential. It’s not about downplaying your successes but about presenting them in a way that resonates with others and highlights your value. Here’s how you can do it without crossing into bragging territory.
Focus on the Impact, Not Just the Achievement
When discussing your successes, shift the focus from what you did to the impact it had. For example, rather than saying, “I led a project that increased revenue by 30%,” you could frame it as, “Our team’s efforts on the project led to a 30% increase in revenue, which allowed us to expand into new markets.” This approach emphasizes the outcome and shared success rather than solely your role in it. It demonstrates your leadership while showing that you credit the team’s hard work. Note: if you’re someone who never takes credit for accomplishments individually and always talks about the ‘team’ when it comes to this, refer to yourself. This is a delicate balancing act.
Use Stories to Make Your Accomplishments Relatable
Did you know stories are remembered 22x more than facts alone? Sharing stories can help you discuss your achievements memorably. When you weave your experiences into narratives, you provide context that can make your successes more relatable and less self-centered. For instance, if you’re proud of launching a successful product, explain the challenge that led to the need for the product, how the team collaborated to develop it, and what the results were. Framing your achievements as part of a journey adds depth and authenticity to your story.
Highlight Lessons Learned
Acknowledge the challenges you faced and the lessons learned along the way. This demonstrates humility and positions you as someone who continuously strives to grow. For example, you might say, “One of my biggest lessons came from a project that didn’t meet its objectives. However, this experience taught me invaluable insights about adaptability and resilience, which I’ve applied to achieve greater success in subsequent initiatives.” Sharing what you learned from an experience highlights your growth mindset, which is highly valued by employers. Feel free to weave in how we learn from failures using a quote from a highly successful leader, such as this one from Michael Jordan:
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I’ve succeeded.”
P.S. – One of the reasons M.J. was so successful in his career was his coach. We all need a coach in life to play our best game.
Let Others Do Some of the Talking
Letting others speak to your accomplishments can be a powerful way to convey your strengths without sounding boastful. If you have a recommendation or testimonial from a colleague, vendor, client, or former leader, incorporate it into your narrative. Research shows that referred candidates are 15 times more likely to be hired than those without referrals (Jobvite, 2023). Use this to your advantage by sharing relevant recommendations that highlight your skills and character.
This is so impactful that INVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s prioritizes references in his hiring process and has publicly stated that he believes reference checks provide a more accurate picture of a candidate’s abilities and work ethic compared to a single interview. He is known to ask detailed questions to references, similar to the ones he would ask a candidate during the interview.
Be Honest About Your Role
It’s tempting to present yourself as the driving force behind every success, but it’s more credible to acknowledge your role within a broader team effort. Clarify where you added the most value, but don’t hesitate to share credit with others. This builds a reputation for being a team player and establishes trust. Mentioning the collaborative aspect of your work can also serve as a way to network more effectively since it portrays you as someone who values partnerships.
It’s Not Self-Promotion, It’s Adding Value
When you talk about yourself, think of it as providing valuable insights rather than self-promotion. Position your experiences as examples of solutions that might benefit others. For instance, if you increased operational efficiency, discuss how your approach could apply to similar challenges your audience might face. This reframes your story as sharing knowledge rather than simply promoting your accomplishments.
Get Feedback on How You Present Yourself
Having an executive coach review how you talk about your achievements. They can coach you on how to refine your approach and increase your success. These insights are valuable into whether you’re coming across as confident and credible without veering into bragging. With an executive coach, you can get personalized strategies for networking, storytelling, and non-self-promotion tailored to your unique strengths.
Conclusion
Talking about yourself without bragging is about striking a balance between confidence and humility. By focusing on the impact, sharing your journey, and giving credit where it’s due, you can effectively communicate your value while fostering genuine connections. Remember, the goal is not just to highlight what you’ve done but to show how what you’ve done can help others.
