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Speaking Out: Acknowledging Your Successes

Recently in my coaching sessions and the classes I teach I've noticed a collective shyness or reticence to sing one's own praises. People seem to be concerned that they are being boastful by stating their successes and that by focusing on their accomplishments they are being egotistical or bragging.

I'm in awe of this philosophy given that the classes I've been teaching are for interviewing skills. The very nature of the query: "Tell me about yourself" is for the speaker to say something of value about himself or herself for the listener's benefit.

Modesty is a great thing. But there is a time and place for it. A job interview or a bio you may be writing or web copy is not the time or place for it.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating becoming the stereotypical used car salesman where there is a great pushing of information on the listener. I've actually sat in on a few conference calls like that recently where the speaker is busy telling me how fabulous they are. I get off the phone feeling really tired because I've had to work twice as hard to hear what I need to hear and to get beyond the hype.

What I am talking about is being about to talk about yourself in such a way that the listener hears something that furthers the conversation.

What keeps talking about yourself and your accomplishments out of the realm of ego is when you base what you say about yourself in a way that is relevant for the listener. Tell me something about yourself that is of value to me as the listener.

With this as your motivation -- you stay out of ego, boasting or not being modest. It really is okay to sing out about your accomplishments, as long as you remember your listener and focus on how your accomplishments can aid the listener.

So, go ahead, don't be shy, speak out and acknowledge your successes and accomplishments.

Feb 17, 2004    1:46 pm

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