The horror that someone might think that we are one of those awful arrogant sorts is often used as an excuse to not take a deep breath and talk about ourselves with confidence. But if we cannot tell people what we are good at how will they know? Not a problem perhaps, until we want a job, a promotion or recognition perhaps.
Of course, we must embrace that we cannot be good at everything – no one can. As we all have strengths we have weaknesses too – no one is great at everything. In recognising both sides, we are able to let go of trying to be amazing at all things and specialise in our particular areas of excellence. Agreed policing, with its multiple demands, may not have prepared you sufficiently to acknowledge you do not have to be good at everything but now it is time to face this demon.
Of course, we can just wait for others to notice how amazing we are, but we might be waiting a while for that. Of course, it is always easier for us if others to sing our praises, and so perhaps we wait hopefully. However, we may end up feeling that we are undervalued and deserve better support and response “why will no one help me?” “Why has no one noticed just how good I am?”
Unless you can point out, honestly, where you have excelled (and you will have excelled) and where your talents lie, it is quite unrealistic to imagine others will take the time to discover the ‘wonder ‘ of you.
Life in business is busy and people really do want the easiest option – tell me why you are good – that sounds reasonable – I believe you – now I am interested. Make their life easy and it will pay you dividends.
A good deal of my working life is spent remodelling how others talk about themselves – pushing them to notice and consider how they speak about themselves and how they often sell themselves short, usually without even realising it.
For most of us, it is incredibly difficult to write about ourselves. If you look at the average LinkedIn profile it is consumed by people who miss greater interest through –
• Talking about themselves in the third person; thus adding distance and disengagement, lacking ownership instead of confidently saying “this is what I did”. Quiet confidence will be welcomed on many levels.
• Putting just bare facts forward and miss the opportunity to be seen as a real and engaging person, which is absolutely what people want – people engage with people, not titles.
It is very very tricky
Getting the balance right is hard. But just think, isn’t it always easier to be with people who are happy in their own skin?
It is always helpful to ask for a dispassionate view from someone who can look at your profile and your CV and point out where you have undersold yourself.
You need to present a ‘picture and story’ of you, with personality, and this does not mean over sharing any more personal details than you are comfortable with.
When you send off your CV the reader needs to have a real view of who you are. When you complete your LinkedIn profile it needs to reflect who you are and what you are about – LinkedIn is your shop front so it needs to be a great representation of what you can offer the world.
You may only get one chance to present yourself; make sure it is the very best you can offer so that you do not put yourself further down the line from successful consideration for jobs and projects, and opportunities.
And of course, the easiest way to get it right is to work with us and reduce your pain!
Angela
