If You Donโt Speak Up, Youโll Get Overlooked โ Even If Youโre Great at What You Do
Youโre smart. Youโre capable. You work hard. But if no one knows the value you bring, youโll keep getting passed over for promotions, raises, and opportunities. Iโve spent the past year coaching professionals across India, China, and Singaporeโleaders and rising stars at Microsoft, HSBC, eBay, AstraZeneca, and more. And thereโs one thing I hear over and over again: โI know Iโm doing good workโฆ but I still feel stuck.โ Hereโs the hard truth: doing great work isnโt enough. In global organizations, the people who move up arenโt just skilledโtheyโre visible. Whether you like it or not, self-promotion matters. If that idea makes you cringe, youโre not alone. Most people I coach struggle with this. Theyโve been told to โspeak up moreโ or โown the room,โ but they donโt know how to do that without sounding arrogant or fake. Thatโs why Iโve put together 10 practical ways to promote yourself with authenticity and impactโno cringey bragging required. Why Self-Promotion Feels So Hard Letโs be honest: most people hate the idea of self-promotion. It feels uncomfortable. Arrogant. Inauthentic. Maybe even culturally inappropriate. I hear this from my clients all the time: But hereโs the thing: your work doesnโt speak. You have to. And if you donโt, someone else will. Someone less qualified, less capableโbut more willing to talk about what theyโve done. In coaching conversations, we often reach the same conclusion: if you want to grow your career, especially in a complex, global organization, you need to develop a personal brand and learn to communicate your value clearly. What Is Personal Branding? Your personal brand is not your job title. Itโs your reputation. Itโs what people say about you when you leave the room. Itโs the emotional aftertaste of working with you. Are you known for being a fixer? A strategic thinker? A cross-functional connector? A calm leader under pressure? If you donโt shape your brand intentionally, others will do it for youโbased on assumptions, limited exposure, or outdated impressions. Your job is to make sure your brand reflects your strengths and aspirations. Thatโs where self-promotion becomes not just helpful, but necessary. 10 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand and Speak Up Authentically Here are ten practical, field-tested strategies I teach my clients to help them build their personal brand, promote themselves effectively, and gain the visibility they deserve. 1. Track Your Wins Regularly Create a simple habit: every week or month, write down what youโve accomplished. Projects completed, problems solved, feedback received. You canโt promote what you donโt remember. This list becomes the foundation for performance reviews, presentations, and networking conversations. 2. Talk About Impact, Not Tasks Avoid describing your work like a to-do list. Instead, focus on outcomes. Donโt say, โI managed the budget.โ Say, โI optimized the budget to save 12% in costs while improving output.โ Impact is what gets remembered. 3. Craft a Powerful Introduction Whether you’re at a meeting, a conference, or a quick coffee chat, be ready to answer, โSo what do you do?โ with clarity and confidence. Try something like:โI help regional teams grow revenue through strategic marketing thatโs data-informed and customer-driven.โShort. Punchy. Results-focused. 4. Speak Up With Framing In meetings, donโt just drop factsโadd perspective. Say things like: 5. Use ‘I’ and ‘We’ Strategically Itโs great to acknowledge your team, but donโt erase your own role. Try:โWe delivered the project on time, and I led the planning and stakeholder engagement.โThatโs confident, not arrogant. 6. Ask for Visibility Opportunities often come when you ask. For example: 7. Develop a Reputation on Purpose Ask yourself: What do I want to be known for? Then align your communication, behaviors, and contributions around that. Start shaping the narrative people tell about you. 8. Use the CAR Model (Challenge โ Action โ Result) This is a simple storytelling structure that makes your contributions stick. 9. Practice Out Loud Confidence comes from repetition. Say your wins out loud. Practice your intro in the mirror. Record yourself and listen back. The more you hear yourself owning your success, the more natural it becomes. 10. Share Your Work Strategically Whether itโs in team updates, LinkedIn posts, or hallway conversationsโfind natural, professional ways to talk about what youโre working on. Visibility isnโt vanity. Itโs leadership. Self-Promotion Is Not About Ego. Itโs About Clarity. Self-promotion isnโt about being loud or showy. Itโs about making your value clearโso the right people can recognize it. So opportunities can find you. So your career doesnโt depend on being discovered by accident. When done right, self-promotion becomes a serviceโto your team, your organization, and your future. Final Thoughts If youโve ever been told to โspeak up more,โ โtake ownership,โ or โraise your profileโโdonโt dismiss it. Thatโs your cue to invest in your personal brand. Not with arrogance. But with intention. You already do great work. Now itโs time to make sure people know about it. Because when you learn to promote yourself with purpose, confidence, and clarityโyou donโt just stand out. You move up. And when youโre ready to stop playing small, letโs talk. ๐ฉ Book a free 30-minute discovery call with me to learn how executive coaching can help you build your personal brand, gain visibility, and finally get the recognitionโand progressionโyou deserve. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.