Be Real, Get Noticed. It's The Smart Way

When you think about advancing in your career, you might naturally picture endless hours, the hard grind, and always being on the ball.

And yes, being competent is essential, but if no one knows it is you doing all that good stuff, you're putting in a whole lot of work for marginal benefits for yourself.

Self-promotion is absolutely crucial for career progress but can feel a bit icky. It's a bit of a tightrope walk, isn't it?

Balancing that confidence and humility, wanting to be seen and heard, but without coming across as, well, you know... a bit of a douche 😬

It's all well and good to be all altruistic and humble, but if you're just working hard and not finding a way to be seen and known as the person doing those things, you're not directing your energy in the most effective way to develop the career you actually want.

I know, some people will argue that the benefit or the joy is in the work itself, and I get that - in some ways it is. But if you're going to do that, why not do that little bit extra to make sure people see and hear you? You'll get so much more out of doing the same thing!

Because let's be honest, most of us want a purposeful career, a fulfilling career, one that gives us the lifestyle we want and that feeling of community acceptance.

So, what's the solution? It's not laziness, I swear! 😇 It's about being strategic.

If you've got 100 units of work capacity, use 70 to deliver great results, but use the other 30 to do things that get you noticed by the right people.

It's about being strategic, (yes, that word gets overused, but hear me out) by ensuring that the right people notice your talents.

You need to identify the influential people, the decision-makers, and figure out what they care about. What are their pain points? What annoys them?

- Know Your Audience: Identify who makes the decisions - your boss, senior leaders, or influential colleagues - and figure out what matters most to them. Then, use that spare capacity to do some stuff that makes their lives easier.

- Share Your Wins: Don’t shy away from discussing your achievements. As soon as my client Sarah started owning her story, her career opportunities blossomed! There are ways to share your wins without the cringe.

- Be Genuine: Share your journey in a way that’s natural and true to who you are. You’re not inflating your accomplishments; you’re simply making sure they’re recognised. It takes some practice, but it's well worth your time and effort.

Think of your manager as your primary customer. You deliver what they need, because that's your job. But that extra capacity? That's for a new customer segment: the people who can help you climb the ladder purposefully. So, find out what they want, what matters to them, and deliver it consistently.

And here's the kicker... you can't control when opportunities arise. 99.99% of the time, they happen due to circumstances outside your control. So, your mission is to always be doing the things that get you noticed, appreciated, understood, seen, heard by the people that will be, or already are, the decision-makers.

When a cool opportunity pops up, you want them to instantly think, "It's a no-brainer, we need to give it to you." You've pre-sold yourself as the obvious choice 😎

It’s like setting up a spotlight on your achievements so that decision-makers can’t help but take notice.

Think of it as career marketing. Rather than shouting your successes from the rooftops, you’re creating a narrative about who you are and what you bring to the table.

Being easy to work with doesn't mean being a yes-man (or yes-woman) and just doing what everyone says all the time. It's the exact opposite of that.

People who stand up for themselves in the right situation are easy to work with. It's about being respectful, collaborative, and reliable. It's about doing your job, not letting the team down, and being a decent human being.

Sometimes, you will have to say no. But it's how you do it that matters. Explain your reasoning, show respect, and help people understand why you're making that decision.

It's that desire to be liked, and it can be a real driving force.

But you've got to learn to manage it. Don't let it paralyse you. Use it to guide you, to help you present yourself effectively, without letting it dictate your every move.

And, very importantly... avoid humiliating people in public (if you'd have that tendency). It might feel good for 30 seconds, but you'll regret it 🤦‍♀️ If you've got feedback, deliver it privately, constructively, and with respect.

A simple mantra to remember:

• Praise in public

• Criticise in private

You don't have to be a "thought leader." You can share what you've learned, what you're passionate about, and what you're good at.

Why bother? Because it shows potential employers you can think, process information, and communicate effectively. It also shows self-drive and a willingness to do things that other people aren't willing to do.

Here's a mind-blowing stat: only about 1% of LinkedIn members regularly post content. So, if you want to stand out, you've got to do what the 1% do!

Here, consistency is key. It might take time to see results, but keep showing up, keep sharing valuable content, and you'll increase your "surface area of luck." You never know who might see your post and what opportunities it might lead to.

Develop an engaging elevator pitch that sums up your strengths in 30-60 seconds, and make sure your online profile reflects the expert you are. Remember, self-promotion is a smart investment in your future, not a vanity project.

Your elevator pitch is the foundation of your personal brand. It's your short, sharp, and memorable answer to "So, what do you do?" It's the hook that grabs people's attention and makes them want to learn more.

And that's what your profile is: an expanded elevator pitch. It gives people the details they need to understand who you are, what you offer, and why they should be interested in you.

Think of your LinkedIn profile, your website, your social media presence – it's all part of your personal brand. And what's a brand? It's a persona, an image you project to the world.

Just like Nike has a brand (energetic, sporty), you have a personal brand. It's what you want to be known for. Are you the go-to person for problem-solving? The thought leader in your field? The expert in a niche area?

Your personal brand should be clear, consistent, and authentic. It should attract the people you want to work with and repel the people you don't 🧲

And a crucial tip: separate your professional persona from your personal one. It's great to show a bit of your human side and uniqueness, but it's best to keep it clean overall. So keep your cat videos on your personal accounts and your career insights on your professional profiles. Unless of course, you're a professional cat video maker or something...

What are your experiences with self-promotion? Any tips or insights you'd like to share?