5 Tips to Toot Your Own Horn Without Sounding Obnoxious

Besides performance appraisals, which are very job responsibilities centric, there are very limited ways to help you inform your peers and superiors about your personal and professional achievements, unless they are directly connected to your job.

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However, it is very important that your boss, the management and your colleagues know about your talents, achievements, and other pursuits that have brought you accolades outside your job. This would, more often than not, increase your worth in the eyes of all concerned. How do you share these achievements without sounding pompous and immodest? Here a few effective tips that will help you toot your own horn without attracting any flak:

1. Newsletter - You may put together a monthly/quarterly/bi-annual/ or yearly newsletter and share all your professional and personal achievements with your friends, colleagues, bosses and peers. The newsletter should not be longer than 2-3 pages and should use highly entertaining language and design. Use a well-thought mix of photographs, cartoons, humor and facts so the recipient will look forward to reading it; otherwise it will end up in the 'spam' folder.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Personal Website and Blog - Launch a personal website and blog where you can post your thoughts, opinions, news and all other similar type of information. Have a link to your website on your email and all online communications so people find it easy to check it out. Also have 'share' and 'comment' buttons easy to find and use to gain viral circulation.
   
   
3. Social Media Network - There is nothing like dropping a line or photograph on your favorite social media network - such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter and so on. Use words and captions that invite comments and opinions.
   
   
4. Small Informal Celebrations - When the achievements are noteworthy - such as winning prizes, being mentioned in the newspapers/TV, and so on - celebrate the good news with your colleagues through small informal parties. You could sponsor coffee and snacks or you could bring a cake, along with other ideas. While sharing your happiness, you can spread the news with panache.
   
   
5. Interviews through Local and National Media - Network and seek opportunities to give interviews on your achievements. There will always be a friend who knows a friend who can facilitate a tiny interview in the local newspaper, magazine or TV. Use all your connections to get there, because once you gain visibility at that level, you will be seen as an 'expert' and even if it does not directly bear upon what you do at your workplace, you will enjoy the respect of your colleagues and bosses.

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