- Do you have confidence, but downplay your results?
- Do you believe if you had anything to brag about, others would brag for you?
- Do you believe humble bragging is OK, since it shouldn’t upset anyone?
In my many years of delivering the award-winning Get Your Brag On! presentation, I still find that many women and men downplay their value, success, and awesomeness. Why is this important? Effective leaders share their accomplishments with confidence. It encourages their team(s) to share their successes and wins, which inspires others.
Too many talented leaders are overlooked not because they lack results, but because they stay quiet about them. Jeannette Seibly
Recently, during a presentation, a highly qualified woman whispered to me, “I thought my work would speak for itself.” It hadn’t. Her less-experienced colleague, who confidently shared his wins, was promoted instead. This is a common scenario and underscores why bragging matters.
Savvy bragging is easy, but we make it hard. It should be easy, sharing factual accomplishments using metrics, results, and impact in a clear, business-relevant way. Unfortunately, our fear gets in the way.
Stop Downplaying Your Accomplishments!
Bragging is not arrogant, selfish, exaggeration, or taking credit away from the team. These myths keep people silent. Silence is not humility. Humble bragging is nonsense! (WSJ) It’s self-sabotage — and it costs you influence, opportunities, and money.
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
- Let go of your fears. If someone doesn’t like you, bragging won’t change their opinion.
- If others are jealous of your success, they won’t suddenly want you on their team.
- Stop trying to win approval.
- In business, do you only want to be liked, or do you want to achieve results and make money while doing so?
Ironically, when you build true inner confidence, people are more likely to like you … and want to work with you. That is the mark of an effective leader.
Why Sharing Your Wins Matters
Savvy bragging is a career and business strategy that:
- Gets you hired
- Gets you promoted
- Closes sales
- Builds credibility and inner confidence
- Differentiates you from competitors
- Increases visibility and influence
- Strengthens your professional reputation
- Opens doors to awards, opportunities, and leadership roles
When you don’t communicate your value, decision-makers will assume you don’t have any. Jeannette Seibly
When you brag effectively, something shifts. You stand taller. People listen differently. Doors open that were previously closed. People want to work with you and be on your team.
Effective Savvy Bragging Is an Art
Imagine walking into a meeting knowing your results are known, respected, and valued — before you even speak. That’s the power of smart bragging. This requires speaking in the business language of numbers, metrics, and accomplishments. Many people fear math; but every businessperson knows their numbers and other metrics, and how and when to share them.
A simple structure helps:
- State the accomplishment.
- Add two metrics or measurable results.
- State the impact or benefit.
Examples of effective bragging
- “I reduced customer complaints by 37% in six months.”
- “I led a 10-person cross-functional team that delivered a $2.5M project on time and under budget.”
- “I improved employee retention by 18% by delivering 10 coaching and development programs.”
These statements are confident, factual, and compelling. They grab others’ attention and make a positive impact.
Be Authentic and Don’t Exaggerate
After presenting Get Your Brag On! to a group of consultants, a woman insisted, “Everyone lies and cannot tell the truth about their accomplishments!” In my experience, most people struggle to be authentic and tell the truth about what they’ve accomplished.
The lesson: be honest. If someone discovers you lied, it will hurt your credibility now and in the future.
While many people are taught to tone down their achievements, it’s usually at your own expense.
Instead, own your greatness, your achievements, and see what new opportunities open up.
How Do I Get Started?
Grab your copy of Get Your Brag On! Complete the five simple written exercises in the book. (For job seekers, use The Secret to Winning the Job: Start Bragging.) In a short period of time, you will be bragging in a savvy, effective, and confident voice. Your inner confidence, team, boss, company, and customers will applaud you.
© Jeannette Seibly 2019–2026 All Rights Reserved
Jeannette Seibly is a Leadership Results Coach, Talent Advisor, and Business Author with 33 years of experience activating greatness in leaders and companies. She delivers practical coaching and solutions that elevate performance today, build legacies that stand the test of time, and support people in empowering themselves to lead with clarity and impact.
Remember, too many leaders — current and future — downplay their accomplishments. Self-deprecation doesn’t attract others to you. Savvy and effective bragging does. Share your achievements in a business-savvy way, and be taken seriously as a leader … savvy bragging ensures you can. What are you waiting for?