Brag The Good Brag

 

 

A while ago I answered a 20-something question about the difference between sharing and bragging. It got a lot of answers and comment. Thanks to social media, over-sharing can happen on both ends of the scale. The “too much information” type and the “aren’t I super fabulous type”. It makes it oh so easy to compare yourself to others or feel as that “everyone is hanging out without me” — as Mandy Kaling aptly hames her book on surviving young adulthood (a very funny and genuine read btw).

 

But on the other hand, women often don’t tout their own horn enough at work, holding them back. And then when they do they are judged to be arrogant . It’s a conundrum. Many of the answers in the previous post lead me to say maybe there are just two kinds of bragging…when you do it for results or strictly for reward (or purely selfish) reasons.  I just ran across this perspective from a respected female architect that I interviewed. It made me think about it again.

 

 “Bragging is a sign of insecurity.  It would be horrible if bragging becomes a way of recognition. If our way of working is built on bragging it would mean a focus on being right versus the possibilities.”

 

It is a tricky balance. Don’t let others bragging get you down …and don’t let your lack of bragging leave you behind or stop you . Share true accomplishments that speak for themselves and brag about the value it brings to yourself and the workplace..or as the woman above suggests when it opens up new possibilities for yourself and others. That will probably make you feel better than bragging strictly for the purpose of making you look or feel better.