How To Get Your Work Noticed Without Bragging

My boss always tells me there is one rule of thumb you MUST follow at work: talk about what you do at work without sounding like you are bragging. How does one do that? I would ask him and he said there is a really simple way. Your superiors would never accept what you do without it being brought to their notice and the only way you can do that is by showing them what you have done with a subtlety and humility. While it may have taken me a long while to get to the point where I can talk about my work without being defensive or a jerk, these steps really helped get to that point.

1. Communicate 

For a long time, I thought work in the form of direct and indirect results was always recognised. However, soon into my first job, I realised this was far from the case. My first job ended rather horribly because I did not have the guts to talk about myself the way I should have from the beginning. Despite my best attempts at showing off what I was doing, something was always lacking. What was lacking? The communication between my manager and I. Talk and do it often, with a clear thought process. Have weekly or bimonthly meetings, with a goal in mind and map charted out. This helps in saying that whatever you are doing right now, is to ensure you only get ahead.

2. Stick to the facts 

While talking about your work, make sure you do not over state the amount you do and what you have done in the past. There is so much you can do and so much you can accomplish when you bring it down to the bare facts. Once you lay down the facts, it is up to them to interpret the facts the way they want. You have done your bit and that is the important part.

3. Own your success

There is a very fine line between being a narcissist and an ignorant. If you were like I was in my beginning days, then make sure you do not toot your horn without knowing why you want to do the tooting. Make sure you sound true to yourself and only then do the bragging.

When you work at a large organisation, your work often goes unnoticed. If you fall under the category who do not like bragging about their work, like me, then it is time to up your work game!