How to speak up and advocate for your accomplishments at work

How to speak up and advocate for your accomplishments at work How to speak up and advocate for your accomplishments at work Just because you’re an introvert doesn’t mean you don’t have a lot to offer your workplace.Here’s how to advocate for yourself in the office when you’re not the most outgoing employee in the bunch.Show your enthusiasm when you talkCIO Magazine features an article about how “shy people” like those in IT can get better at “self-promotion,” with commentary from career coach Curt Rosengren, who used to work in tech.“The hang-up most people have with self-promotion has to do with the fact that they don’t like to talk about themselves, particularly in the context of greatness. So it’s helpful to think of self-promotion not as talking about yourself, but as talking about your work. And if you’re enthusiastic about your work, self-promotion becomes that much easier, notes Curt Rosengren, the career coach. ‘If you’re talking about a technology or project that you’re passionate about, the self-promotion becomes a byproduct of the passion,’ he says.”Assume a roleAn article in The Cut about how “self-conscious” people can get better at “self-promotion” includes the tip, “pretend you’re playing a part.” The piece features advice from Ellen Hendriksen, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and the author of How to Be Yourself. After she talks in detail about entering a role, the article continues:“It’s a nice way of tricking yourself into doing something you don’t want to do. But after the fact, remember to look back, and to mentally stitch those two selves back together. ‘If you look back and you’re like, Huh, I just gave a talk to 500 people. Hmm. Maybe I can do that,’ Hendriksen said, this can be a sort of backward route to self-confidence. ‘By watching yourself do it, you start to believe you can do it. It’s thinking, Okay, maybe now I can give a talk, o r be on stage. Not just me in this role, but me, as myself. But I think that only happens in hindsight.’ ”Show off what you’re good atStephanie Peterson, co-founder of PhotoFeeler.com, writes in The Muse that introverts should “identify (and flaunt) your quiet strengths.”“Once you’ve recognized what your strengths are, try to find ways to call attention to them in the office. For me, that simply meant saying out loud what I was already thinking. I’ve always preferred reading non-fiction at home to crowded social events on the weekends, but during conversation with acquaintances and colleagues, I neglected to voice the references that came to mind. It wasn’t until opening up that I gained a reputation as a trusty source of thoughtful, interesting information.”