Loud Thinking May 09, 2014 at 01:22PM

Brand Yourself While Maintaining Your Integrity

In the American workplace, self-promotion is seen as a way to differentiate yourself and advance your career. But for people who grew up in cultures where modesty, composure, and self-control are strongly valued, it can be hard to meet the need for personal branding. In this case, it helps to reframe the idea of self-promotion – instead of viewing it as a selfish endeavor, think about whom else might benefit from your efforts. For example, if you’re known as a sought-after expert, clients will hire your company to have access to your skills. And if you come from a culture that emphasizes the group over the individual, highlight your achievements within the context of what the team or organization was able to achieve. This way, you can maintain your integrity while still getting name recognition for all that you do.

Adapted by HBR from “ Self-Promotion for Professionals from Countries Where Bragging Is Bad” by Dorie Clark and Andy Molinsk y.

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