Toot your own horn!

Why you should talk about your achievements.

Communicating your achievements at work can be challenging, especially in cultures that value humility. It is essential to strike a balance between highlighting your accomplishments and not appearing boastful. However, there are psychological benefits to discussing your accomplishments in a balanced way. Effective communication of your successes can improve your self-confidence, increase your motivation, and enhance your professional reputation. This blog post will outline effective ways to discuss your achievements at work while reaping the psychological benefits.

1. Use data to support your accomplishments.

Sharing measurable results and statistics creates an objective basis for your success. It also demonstrates that you value quantitative evidence and logic, which can help build trust with your colleagues. Studies have found that presenting objective data to support accomplishments can improve an individual’s credibility and influence. A study by Johnson and colleagues (2006) found that presenting numerical evidence of performance improvement led to higher evaluations by superiors.

Additionally, sharing data can help overcome the “bragging” stigma associated with self-promotion. A study by Pronin and Kugler (2007) found that participants were more likely to view self-promotion as boasting when individuals used subjective statements like “I am the best” versus objective statements like “I achieved a 30% increase in sales.” Therefore, using data to support your accomplishments can be an effective way to communicate your successes without appearing boastful.

2. Share credit with others.

Sharing credit with your team is an effective strategy to avoid sounding boastful. Acknowledging your colleagues’ contributions and emphasizing how their efforts helped you achieve success demonstrates that you value collaboration and teamwork. This approach can also foster a sense of camaraderie, making people more inclined to support you in the future.

Research has shown that emphasizing team success over individual success can lead to better collaboration and team outcomes. A study by Li and colleagues (2019) found that employees who perceived their workgroup as more collective-oriented (e.g., emphasizing shared goals and team success) had higher levels of job satisfaction, work engagement, and less intention to quit. Therefore, sharing credit with your team can not only avoid the appearance of boastfulness but also foster a more positive work environment.

3. Emphasize the impact of your accomplishments.

Focusing on the impact of your accomplishments is a powerful way to highlight your successes without appearing boastful. Describing how your achievements have benefited the company, your team, or your customers demonstrates your value to the organization. This approach can boost your self-confidence and sense of self-worth.

Research has shown that highlighting the impact of one’s accomplishments can lead to increased job satisfaction and motivation. A study by Briscoe and colleagues (2012) found that individuals who experienced a greater sense of impact from their work reported higher levels of job satisfaction and motivation. Therefore, emphasizing the positive outcomes of your accomplishments can not only help you avoid sounding boastful but also enhance your psychological well-being.

4. Be humble.

Adopting a humble attitude is one of the best ways to avoid appearing boastful. Avoid using grandiose language and instead present your accomplishments in a straightforward, matter-of-fact way. Acknowledge areas where you can improve and demonstrate that you are willing to learn from others. This approach demonstrates your openness to feedback and your desire to improve, which can improve your reputation and social capital.

Research has shown that humility is a valuable trait in the workplace. A study in 2013 by Owens and colleagues found that leaders who exhibited humility had more committed and satisfied followers, as well as higher levels of team performance. Another study by Tucker and colleagues (2016) found that employees who perceived their leaders as humble had higher levels of job satisfaction and work engagement. Therefore, adopting a humble attitude can not only help you avoid appearing boastful but also lead to better outcomes in the longer run.

What are your thoughts on sharing your own achievements?

References:

Briscoe, J. P., Hall, D. T., & DeMuth, R. L. (2012). Protean and boundaryless careers: An empirical exploration. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 81(3), 325–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2012.07.003

Johnson, R. E., Chang, C. H., & Lord, R. G. (2006). Moving from cognition to behavior: What the research says. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 7(3), 119–141. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-1006.2006.00047.x

Li, M., Zhu, C. J., & Zheng, X. (2019). Collectivism and counterproductive work behavior: A multilevel investigation in China. Journal of Business Ethics, 156(3), 707–723. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3688-1

Owens, B. P., Johnson, M. D., & Mitchell, T. R. (2013). Expressed humility in organizations: Implications for performance, teams, and leadership. Organization Science, 24(5), 1517–1538. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1120.0795

Pronin, E., & Kugler, M. B. (2007). Valuing thoughts, ignoring behavior: The introspection illusion as a source of the bias blind spot. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43(4), 565–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2006.05.011

Tucker, L. R., Turner, N., Barbour, J. B., Sørensen, K. L., & Jamieson, B. (2016). Is humility a friend or foe to employees? A multilevel investigation of humility and individual and team effectiveness. Journal of Management, 42(5), 1146–1167. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206314525207

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