BRAG! GOES GLOBAL
When my book, BRAG! The Art Of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It, came out, the first question I was asked in practically every media interview was, "Peggy, do you really think more Americans need to learn how to brag?" As I've traveled around the country and the world giving workshops and trainings, I've learned that this sentiment is shared by many others from across the globe who think that Americans are already way too brash and braggadocious. My intention in writing the book, however, was to increase the quality of self-promotion, not necessarily the quantity.
But, contrary to popular opinion, the need to brag better is by no means a uniquely American phenomenon. This became even more apparent during my recent trip to Hong Kong where I conducted BRAG! workshops for a multi-national Fortune 500 corporation. Globalization had been creating communication challenges for the company's employees, who were trying to effectively interact with associates and customers around the world, spanning cultural differences along with the time zones.
I approached the training session in Hong Kong with more than a little apprehension, given that the event organizers called to warn me that the group would most likely be introverted and resistant to my hands-on exercises. In addition, they had decided to remove all references to bragging and self-promotion from the invitation because they thought those words would be offensive and keep participants away. I assured them that, having already delivered the training to diverse audiences from other countries and cultures, I would be sensitive to their concerns. As well, I explained that I couldn't present a workshop to an audience who didn't know what the program was going to really be about. Eventually, they agreed to reinsert that four-letter word back into the title and advertise the program as a workshop on self-promotion. After doing so, to their complete surprise, employees still signed up in droves.
When the day of the workshop finally arrived, it was my turn to be pleasantly surprised. The participants were very enthusiastic about the workshop. They quickly grasped the value of bragging as an empowering business skill and put aside any misgivings. I was impressed by their willingness to embrace the exercises, even the ones that made them feel uncomfortable. They learned how to talk about themselves and their accomplishments in entertaining, interesting ways—ones that would attract people rather than repel them. By the end of the training, this group had became one of the best I'd ever worked with.
It turns out Asians aren't the only people who grow up with misconceptions about bragging. Australians call it the "tall poppy syndrome," meaning that if you get too tall (too big for your britches), they'll cut off your head. The Japanese have a proverb—the tallest nail gets hit the hardest—that reminds people why they should avoid standing out. During my workshop in Hong Kong, I learned a Chinese saying: "The full bottle doesn't make a sound," meaning that when you are truly successful, you don't need to make a lot of noise. Whichever version of lying low you grew up with (in my own case, my father always told me that "a job well done speaks for itself"), the ability to self-promote has become a must-have global business tool.
Today's employees need to get out of their silos and be able to talk about themselves and their company or product with colleagues and clients from a variety of backgrounds. As well, corporate mergers and job hopping have increased the need for better bragging. Remember too, your bosses aren't psychic and can't help promote your career if they don't know what you are up to, especially when they might not work in the same office with you or even on the same continent. And even if you never leave your own country, letting others know what you've accomplished is one of the best ways to leverage business and career opportunities.
My experience in Hong Kong has convinced me even more that the value of bragging—the right way, of course—is universal. Adding further evidence, international companies from Asia to Europe continue to request BRAG! training programs for their employees, and foreign publishers—from Korea, Japan, China, Israel, and Saudi Arabia—have purchased rights to BRAG! The Art Of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It. The book is also available in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. So no matter where you live or who you might be communicating with, it's time to cast aside your own bragging myths and step into the spotlight. Here are some suggestions to help you on your way:
TWELVE TOOTING TIPS FOR MASTERING THE ART OF BRAGGING
- Be your best, authentic self.
- Think about to whom you are tooting.
- Say it with meaningful and entertaining stories.
- Keep it short and simple.
- Talk with me, not at me.
- Be able to back up what you say.
- Know when to toot.
- Turn small talk into big talk.
- Keep your Bragologues and Brag Bites current and fresh.
- Be ready at a moment's notice.
- Have a sense of humor.
- Use it all: your eyes, your ears, your head, and your heart.
