How do I self-promote myself at work on the sly?

August 10, 2008 3:17 PM

How do I self-promote myself to my boss without looking like I'm doing so?

I think I do a pretty good job at work, if not an excellent one. Indeed, I know I do a great job at work. My clients are always telling me how satisfied they are with the level of service I provide and my written work rarely, if ever, gets reviewed. Our 2iC and I get on very well, and she often praises me for the work that I do and the results that I achieve. I also do a lot of work above my pay level and I know for a fact that I do all of this very well.

I've decided I'd like to be recognised for all the work I do because currently I don't think I am. In fact sometimes I feel that my boss, who obviously is above me and our 2iC and who I also suspect is largely antipathetic towards me, barely recognises me at all. I've been at my job for almost three years now; he's barely been with us for one. In that time he's come to fall in with a small group of my co-workers who I know don't like me, and I think this has poisoned his view of me to a degree. So much so that he does not take my views into account much of the time and, as I said, barely pays me any attention or praises me for the work I do. As you can imagine, all of this has led to me feeling somewhat marginalised at work.

It's probably also important to mention at this stage that my two previous bosses in this job before this boss came along actually did like me, told me that they valued me and praised the work I did.

Because of my suspicions that my boss may not necessarily like me (but probably does not hate me enough to fire me), I think that I could not only improve my relations with him if he knew what a great job I actually do every day but also improve my pay level were I to self-promote a little.

But this is not my style. I'm the sort of person who likes to show up at work, keep my head down, do my job as best as I possibly can every day and let my work speak for itself. I'd agree with anyone who says that this style has probably been to my detriment in this instance. But as I said earlier, my two previous bosses seemed to realise that my work was great and actually told me so, so I never felt the need to self-promote before now.

So I've never self-promoted at work but I suspect that I'm going to have to start doing do. Given that I've never done this before, I'd like some tips on ways to do so. And if possible, I don't want it to look like I'm doing it (even though I am).

So what are some great ways for me to promote myself and my work to my boss without him or anyone else overtly realising that that's exactly what I'm doing?

Some extra info for you;

* I'm a guy, if that matters at all.
* I'm an introvert as well, so no over the top self-promotion stuff please.
* I like my job very much (and I need the money), so leaving isn't an option.

Thanks!

posted by anonymous to work & money (16 comments total)

Maybe get your clients to commend you?
posted by XMLicious at 3:31 PM on August 10, 2008

Talk about your successes in a way that makes them everyone's successes, since you're all working toward the same goal. For example, "Hey everyone, great news. Our goal of getting the Madonna tour contract is one step closer to reality! I just got Madonna's hairdresser to start carrying our gel!" "Good news - Client X wants us to do their brochure and annual mailing. They claim the website we did for them doubled their sales!" [You don't need to explicitly point out that Client X is yours.]
posted by salvia at 3:57 PM on August 10, 2008

Short of you saving his daughters life by rescuing her from a burning building, timbers falling around you as you run from the building just before the floor caves in, nothing is going to get this guy to change his view of you. Okay, maybe not that big, maybe saving his ass in front of a client when he knows that you have no reason to do so, maybe just after he's passed you over for a raise or some such -- maybe something like that would be enough to get him to look at you with different eyes, and look at what you do, and are doing, and have done.

Benjamin Franklin said his method of getting a person who had an adversarial view of him onto his side was to ask this person a favor, to put himself in this persons debt, often by asking if he could borrow a book that he knew was in the other persons library -- books were a very precious commodity then, not only did they not have Amazon, they didn't even have the internet! You might want to try some variant of BF's approach, you might not want to.

I think you're going to just have to wait it out. Maybe this guy will get hit by a bus, or move on to another gig, maybe you'll end up with one of your old bosses. Or maybe you'll have to move on to another gig yourself, if/when it becomes clear that this just isn't going to work, ever, and you're stuck. Meanwhile, content yourself with the knowledge of who you are -- a very good employee, and good at your work, plays well with others; you don't need this guys approval.
posted by dancestoblue at 4:03 PM on August 10, 2008

In work, there's no shame in self-promotion. Managers want people to get to the point. Just say your piece when appropriate.
posted by ascullion at 4:06 PM on August 10, 2008

Document, document, document.

In your journal, write a list of accomplishments. Make note of client comments, and on what date they said them. Document successes and quantify results. Try to package this information in a way so that your boss can use this info when speaking to his or her boss - your boss also has to demonstrate results, and may also need ammunition to help you get a raise when budgets are tight.

Next, schedule a 30 meeting with your boss. Explain that you would like to let him know what you've been up to for the past three to six months. Identify your successes, and also let him/her know areas you are working to improve.

Schedule your next meeting three months from now - you should be having these meetings once a quarter.

It's natural to be ambitious and want to be promoted or get a raise, and selling yourself demonstrates good communication skills that can be used in other settings.
posted by KokuRyu at 4:31 PM on August 10, 2008

I would also add that most bosses are busy, and probably never realize just exactly what their subordinates do.
posted by KokuRyu at 4:33 PM on August 10, 2008

In my opinion, you need to repair your work relationship with your coworkers (the ones who don't like you) and your boss. The office politics are going to really make your life hard if you don't. You don't have to be best friends with everyone, but they should respect you.

Sometimes I like to think that old wisdom is the best. Here's one: Take the high road. For example, if someone is gossiping about you, do not gossip about them. Here's another one: Treat others as you would like to be treated. For example, keep everyone informed of your work progress (and wins), ask your boss and even the hateful coworkers to join you for lunch, be polite and cordial to everyone -- say good morning, ask how the latest work project is going, and so on. Here's another one: Early bird gets the worm. For example, be a little early to work every day, and don't be in a rush to be the first out the door in the evening. Perhaps use those minutes to stop by your manager's office and say hello if he's available, chat about what's going on in your company or industry, find out about any big projects that you can be a part of.

The truth is, it is harder to repair your work reputation than it is to maintain it. You've been there longer than your boss, so maybe you'll be there after he leaves... make sure you really shine for the next one. In the meantime, take care of the problem with the coworkers so they don't poison the well next time.
posted by Houstonian at 4:36 PM on August 10, 2008

I was in a similar situation a while back. My manager only talked with two or three team members, and his entire understanding of all our work was rigidly controlled. There were some very bad decisions made because of this... Here's what I recommend:

First - When your clients say something nice, tell them it would be great if they could shoot your boss an email and let him know. Not everyday, but for every project.

Second - Invite your boss to lunch occasionally.

I never actually did either of these things, but a colleague would regularly ask for the emails. If nothing else, this is written documentation that you are doing a great job. It's job security. He can't very well fire you if you are receiving rave reviews. At least, not without second thoughts.

The second recommendation of taking your boss out to lunch periodically is something I meant to do, but didn't. It will let your boss see you as a human being, and confuse the clique. Don't talk about work unless he asks. He will at some point. The goal for the lunches shouldn't be to prove you are a great employee - it's to get him to think of you as a person rather than a faceless employee.

If you're anything like me, doing this stuff will be kind of painful, but in your situation I think they may be necessary.
posted by xammerboy at 5:13 PM on August 10, 2008

I like my job very much (and I need the money), so leaving isn't an option.

If you can't leave, why should your boss make an effort to keep you? He can continue to do nothing, and he'll still get good work out of you. What's in it for him?

Anyway, I recommend advertising yourself to other potential employers. If you're as good as you say you are, eventually they will offer you more money than you're making now, and the job will be just as good (if not better).

You shouldn't lock yourself into a bad position just because you're afraid of change. Jobs aren't a "for life" thing anymore. Leave when you can get more for yourself. (Any company would gladly lay you off if it meant more money for them. No reason to not return the favor.)
posted by jrockway at 5:19 PM on August 10, 2008

Oh - here's another one I never quite managed to do. Compliment other people's work on the team to your boss, especially the clique (even underservingly). People like to work with people that make them look good - even more than to work with someone really great at what they do. Also, what better way to deflect someone's criticisms of you than to compliment them? It makes you think about who really is the problem...

Remember "I am happy to do that", "I think X is doing a great job". You are not the problem, and by inference something else is.
posted by xammerboy at 5:23 PM on August 10, 2008

You've heard of the book How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie? This book is old, really old. But it's good, really good. People just haven't changed much.

Somewhere along the line, I downloaded a PDF copy of that book. I can't find where I downloaded it now, but I've still got it. If you would like, I'd be glad to email it to you. Just send me a mefi-mail, and I'll have it to you right away. Or, if you want to remain anonymous to me, and the moderators are OK with this, I'd be glad to send it to a moderator to pass along to you.

If you'd rather not read the book, at least please look at this good summary of its main points. I think you'll find some good tips here.
posted by Houstonian at 5:34 PM on August 10, 2008

I found the link, so you can download Dale Carnegie's book if you wish. Go here, and then click the Download Here link in the text. It's a ZIP file, and the only thing in the file is the PDF of the book.
posted by Houstonian at 5:42 PM on August 10, 2008

It is a rare boss who would object to short and sweet updates on departmental successes or misses that they in turn can give to THEIR bosses. Take every opportunity you can to update him or her, making it clear what your role was in the outcome whenever possible. Just a few examples:

"Bob, I thought you'd like to know that ABC Company thought our research was right on the mark for their current project. They particularly liked the comparisons I worked on using competitor information."

"Bob, FYI, we got a thumbs up from DEF Company on that last project. I worked really hard at beating their deadline and it seems to have paid off."

It's equally important to give a heads up on problem areas, so that when you resolve them, you can shine. For example:

(Early morning) "Bob, thought you should know that GHI Company is threatening not to renew their contract because they got a low ball offer from XYZ Company. I have a call in to Joe Schmoe to see how we can save this one.

(Late afternoon) "Bob, once I explained to Joe that XYZ Company doesn't guarantee their work, he's back in the fold."

Make the communications short and on target...then get out of the way. If you are as good as you say you are, he will be looking for more of you soon enough.
posted by LiveLurker at 6:34 PM on August 10, 2008

Like xammerboy suggests, when I've done somehting good and someone thanked me, I sometimes ask if they could drop a short note to my boss. No matter how tiny my effort, actual proof of a user's/customer's/coworker's gratitude, in the form of an email or card, always gobsmacks 'em. Hardly anyone takes the time to do this anymore, so it makes a pretty big splash.

I have done this many times for customer service types at companies who helped me out, and almost every time I have received a nice note from the supervisor in question -- and they too are amazed that someone even noticed them.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:22 AM on August 11, 2008

Lots of good suggestions here -- the only other one I would make is figure out what is important to your boss -- what he wants to accomplish in this role and then figure out how to help him do that.

nthing repairing relationships with co-workers, keeping updates short and sweet.
posted by elmay at 3:43 PM on August 11, 2008

This one is so powerful I hesitate to let loose on the unsuspecting world of management.

I discovered this one while working at Monkey Wards my last semester in college. I was working as a part-time sales associate in the appliance department. There was one of the department that received very little attention from the sales staff because there was very little commission associated with selling vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaner bags. This last was always in disarray and took us away from customers who might want a refrigerator or riding lawnmower...big ticket items with corresponding commissions.

I had the vacuum cleaner department assigned to me as on of my regular duties. Now, I didn't want to do these any more than any other salesman, but the store manager's office was right next to the bags so he saw them every day.

I decided to do my best in getting the vacuum cleaners organized and then started on the bags. First, he was very pleased to see the bags stocked and organized, but that was not the genius of my discovery.

After organizing the vacuum cleaners, I asked Mr. Ray to take a look. I told him that I done my best but that I felt something wasn't quite right with the vacuum cleaners on the display cases. Could he take a look and offer his advice?

That's the key.

He made some suggestions. I made them happen with in the next couple of shifts.

He told me that if I ever needed any recommendations, to please look him up and he'd be glad to tell them about me.

So here's the deal.

Ask for a one of the dirtiest assignments from your boss, the one no one else wants. Whip it in to decent shape, but leave room for your boss to voice suggestions when you tell him you don't think it is quite right. Then make those suggestions real.

Caveat: I've only tried this with male supervisors, so I have little data on how it will work with female supervisors. But, the one time I tried the method with one, she bought me a Swatch to help remember her and the project I was working on, so I think it might work well in any situation.
posted by choragus at 7:59 PM on August 11, 2008