Talking about your achievements because...

Last week we saw the most recent cohort of WBS graduates receiving their well-deserved award certificates – a week full of excitement and cheers, smiles and reflections on past achievements and new paths. As an extra bonus, the sun was shining too.   

How many of you have shared this milestone and academic achievement with others?

I often meet people who are not comfortable talking about their personal and professional achievements because they believe it is “bragging”. For some it is not seen as culturally acceptable, while others don’t want to make too much fuss about something they have done. But remember behaviours can be chosen depending not just on a single social context: people like your family, friends, colleagues and peers would love some positive news because we share the excitement and feel inspired by success stories and lessons from people who have overcome challenges. We are wired to respond to those and want to be part of the celebration.    

A graduation event and any other personal and professional success can be a great opportunity to:

• Acknowledge your hard work and boost your confidence
• Invite others to celebrate with you
• Thank those who have played a significant part in your success

Another reason to share achievements more widely is to gather support and provide evidence to others to believe in you and this can be done in different professional contexts to:

• Remind your employer of the value you bring to the organisation not just now but perhaps in a different role in the future
• Highlight your accomplishments to potential employers in job applications and at interviews

Studies show that when you seek a compliance response, you should aim to use the word “because” as it is proven that requests with a “because” explanation, no matter how trivial this might be, are more successful than those without it. To take this to a situation where you talk about your achievements, my first tip is:

Use “because”

This will gather even more support and appreciation of your achievement. Recall the famous L’Oréal slogan: “because you’re worth it”. 

Give credit where credit is due and express gratitude

You know that some of your achievements have been possible thanks to the contribution and assistance of others. Certainly, your supervisors and companies you worked with supported you in crafting your dissertation, while your family have shown their patience and understanding during these times. Express your appreciation and demonstrate your humility:

"As I reflect on completing my course, I’m grateful for …….and for …… because without their help/ advice/perspective... “

Or if you are talking about a successful project you have delivered as part of your job:

“I am delighted to share with you the successful completion of project Y because…... Each member of the team played an important role and I am grateful for….”

“It is not bragging, if it is based on facts”

We use this phrase in the #IamRemarkable workshops and it has the power to re-frame one’s perception of talking about themselves. Include specific facts and results when you talk about your achievements. This gives you more confidence and makes a more credible case for your success.    

Share how your work added value to the company, clients, or colleagues rather than personal gains. For example:

"I led a project that increased customer satisfaction by 25%, resulting in a 15% boost in repeat. I am particularly proud of this because it required me to come up with a new strategy using my crucial thinking and problem-solving skills”.

Be a storyteller

A compelling story can be used with your friends and colleagues, and in your annual review meetings where you would like to show your manager what you have actually accomplished.  Remember,  share the hard work you have put in, the emotions that you have experienced and the lessons you have learnt. This approach will help you reveal your vulnerability and will make your success more relatable and interesting for others.  

“I have spent months working hard on this project and now I am thrilled to see that it has come to a successful completion. On reflection I made it possible because I approached it from a unique angle, which allowed me to overcome unexpected obstacles."

or

“I am excited to announce that I will be taking a new role as a Trustee on the Board of Directors of Charity X because I will be able to offer my professional expertise to support Y cause and will be able to grow as a professional by stepping out of my comfort zone.”

Invite others to share

Choosing the right timing and context of when you share your achievement is important. It can be through LinkedIn, in an interview, in a professional review or in a networking conversation. However, a skilful communicator will look out for opportunities to re-direct the conversation to invite others to give advice or share their own experiences. You can simply say:

"I'd love to hear about your experiences because I believe we can learn so much from each other's journeys."

Look out for a positive direction of the next stage of the conversation, because people will remember how you make them feel. You can convert people in your keen supporters by creating this special experience of being with you and having the attention they deserve to share their own accomplishments.

 I appreciate that despite all the words above it can be daunting to overcome the feelings of anxiety when you try to communicate some or all of the aspects covered above but like all skills they can be improved and worked on through practice.  Close colleagues, friends and family as well as self-reflection often provide an appropriate sounding board for you to take your first steps and build confidence.

If any of you have specific stories of how you overcame your own barriers, I would be delighted to hear from you: alumnicareers@wbs.ac.uk