Stop doing ‘criminal damage’ to your career. Why being your own biggest advocate isn't optional!

Doing great work, putting in the extra hours and consistently moving the needle means next to nothing if nobody knows about it.

In my coaching, perhaps the single biggest topic that comes up week in, week out isn't a lack of results – it’s hidden achievements. So many professionals operate like secret agents, sacrificing time and delivering exceptional value while remaining completely invisible to the people who hold the keys to their career progression.

Think of your career like a bus journey. You can choose to sit passively as a passenger, leaving your route, speed and ultimate destination entirely in the hands of the driver or you can step up, take the wheel and drive yourself where you actually want to go. If you care about getting recognised and rewarded for your contributions, you need to run your career like a business – and every successful business requires strategic marketing.

The myth of the 'brag'

‘Blowing your own trumpet’ carries a negative connotation in many cultures (particularly the British) and is often associated with arrogant boasting. But true self-promotion, done with authenticity, isn't bragging – it’s simply enabling others to understand your value and how your work supports the wider business. 

In her book Brag Better, Meredith Fineman outlines a framework for the "Qualified Quiet"—those who do excellent work but struggle to speak up. The core pillars of effective self-promotion are straightforward: 

Be heard: Visibility requires showing up. Share your work regularly in meetings, across internal channels, and on platforms like this one.

Reframe the narrative: Keeping quiet doesn't make you humble; it hides important contributions that could help your team, department, or company to succeed.

Focus on impact: Ditch the operational to-do list. Highlighting your work effectively means articulating outcomes, not just activity.

What masters of self-promotion do differently

People who navigate their careers successfully treat self-promotion as a natural extension of their role. They build strong habits that elevate their profile without coming across as insincere.

They operate beyond their immediate team: Identifying internal and external influencers and actively staying on their radar. 

They leverage reciprocity: By stepping up to support and highlight others, they build a network of allies who advocate for them in return.

They focus on their strengths: They know their core differentiators—the high-value skills that set them apart—and actively lean into them.

They frame updates around value: When sharing results, they link their personal execution directly to broader strategic goals.

Practical ways to start advocating for yourself today

Maintain an achievements log: Track metrics, completed projects, client compliments, and key milestones in one place so you always have immediate evidence of your impact.

Master the 60-second 'elevator pitch': Be ready to articulate what you’re currently delivering, why it matters, and the value it brings to the business at a moment’s notice.

Use the simple impact formula: Structure your updates around three core elements: What you did + Why it mattered + The measurable result.

Normalise 'bragging' for others: Elevate your peers and celebrate your team's wins publicly. Building a culture of recognition makes it easier for everyone to share their contributions.

Showing up every day and putting in extraordinary effort while staying silent isn't modesty – it's damage to your career potential. Context matters and reading the room is essential but staying hidden guarantees one thing – you will be overlooked.

If you don't advocate for your own work, who will?

This short article is a summary of Chapter 4 of my five-chapter ebook on (re)gaining control of your career. Message me if you’d like a free copy!