Restaurant Social Media
Do you think Bragging about Yourself is Ok?
I just finished a book, a book I have been reading for the last couple of days, which made more and more sense with each page I turned.
The title is, "BRAG, The Art of Tooting your own Horn without Blowing It," by Peggy Klaus.
As for me, I was taught that HUMILITY was a very important virtue that needed to be displayed at every opportunity. I was raised to never talk about myself.
"You don't need to blow your own horn."
It was a sign of being a braggart and a show-off.
* Shouldn't a job well done, speak for itself?
* I don 't have to brag. Won't people do it for me?
* Isn't BRAG a four-letter word?
Peggy was quoted as saying,
"In today's cut-throat business world, where job security is virually non-existent, bragging is a necessity, not a choice!"
It seems to me, that remaining quiet about your successes only leads to being underappreciated and overlooked.
I believe,
"BRAGGING done tactfully and skillfully
communicates your most important asset --- you!"
and can and will have a powerful effect on your careeer.
What do you think?
Bill
The title is, "BRAG, The Art of Tooting your own Horn without Blowing It," by Peggy Klaus.
As for me, I was taught that HUMILITY was a very important virtue that needed to be displayed at every opportunity. I was raised to never talk about myself.
"You don't need to blow your own horn."
It was a sign of being a braggart and a show-off.
* Shouldn't a job well done, speak for itself?
* I don 't have to brag. Won't people do it for me?
* Isn't BRAG a four-letter word?
Peggy was quoted as saying,
"In today's cut-throat business world, where job security is virually non-existent, bragging is a necessity, not a choice!"
It seems to me, that remaining quiet about your successes only leads to being underappreciated and overlooked.
I believe,
"BRAGGING done tactfully and skillfully
communicates your most important asset --- you!"
and can and will have a powerful effect on your careeer.
What do you think?
Bill
Tags: Advancement, Business, Career, Coaching, Development
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Keith Bernhardt on -
Bill,
We must have some sort of ESP or something, because I was just thinking about this subject.
I'm not familair with the book, you mentioned, but I, too have wondered when is a good time to
"brag" ; when is it good and when does it constitute intimidation ?
I gave a presentation, not long ago, as part of a job interview. I basically talked about my travel career, how the industry had changed, different people I had come across, places I'd been etc.
It was a small group, but I can't help but wonder, if they truly were interested or intimidated.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Baumgartner on -
Hey Keith,
I highly recommend you read this book.
I guarantee you will learn from it.
Bill
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Permalink Reply by susan holaday on -
Why not? If you aren't your own biggest supporter, who will be?
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Permalink Reply by Bill Baumgartner on
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Hi Susan,
Exactly the sentiments expressed on the front cover of the book:
"Start bragging....If you don't speak up for yourself, who will?"
--- Financial Times
Bill
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Permalink Reply by Howard Appell on -
Very true Susan. Make yourself a winner and people will want to do business with you.
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Permalink Reply by Dinersfeedback.com on -
I think it depends on how good a bragger you are . In "boxing PPV" for instance bragging sells tickets . In realty TV bragging increases ones popularity but I do think that bragging is an art and if you don't do it well you will cross the line and sound arrogant ..
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Permalink Reply by Bill Baumgartner on
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Dinersfeedback.com,
I agree.
"If you don't do it well, you will cross the line and sound arrogant."
Bragging, as the author, Peggy Klaus, has written,
"BRAG doesn't have to be a distasteful 4-letter word."
"Someone who is effective at self-promotion brags in a way that isn't obvious to others, and doesn't come across as too self-serving."
"Learning to brag is not about becoming something you aren't or tryng to put something over on someone. In fact, bragging as an art is just the opposite.
It's about becoming more of who you are and bringing forward your best parts with authenticity, pride, and enthusiasm."
'It's about telling your story in a way that showcases your strengths.
It's a way of building a bridge to others and to better opportunities."
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Permalink Reply by Debra Straka on -
"Bragging done tactfully and skillfully..." are the key words here. Promoting your brand and accomplishments is a must in this highly competitive market. Bragging is still bragging and is still a turnoff and snorefest for most who must endure listening to it. Nothing is ever done without the help and support of others. Make sure when you are being skillful and tactful about your accomplishments that you include the we with the me.
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Permalink Reply by Bill Baumgartner on
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Debra,
Yes, we need to make sure we include the WE with the me.
But consider this:
"I don't know which people shy away from more: criticism or compliments."
"The next time you give someone a compliment, watch his/her reaction.
Rarely does he/she take it in, absorb the meaning and answer fully, "Thank you, I really appreciate you saying that," or "Thank you, that means a lot coming from you."
"Instead he/she guffaws, clears his/her throat, shuffles his/her feet, hangs his/her head, or childishly giggles. Then more often than not , he/she proceeds to minimize or deny the compliment or chalk it up to being lucky."
Why not use this opportunity to "turn compliments into launching pads for underscoring your hard work and aspirations.". BRAG!
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Permalink Reply by Debra Straka on
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Bill,
I agree many people have a hard time handling compliments, as well as criticism. Both effective tools for self discovery and neither should be shied away from. Over the top compliments and harsh criticism however, should be filed in the circular file as neither is a teachable moment or learning experience.
If you are underscoring your hard work and aspirations with individuals that have asked you to do so, then is it really bragging? Underscoring your hard work out of context is. It is a social dilema that is becoming increasingly annoying. The most successful leaders will agree that they stood on many shoulders to get where they are. Honesty is a powerful character trait, be honest while you underscore and give credit where credit is due.
Great discussion topic Bill, thanks for bringing it forward!
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Permalink Reply by Matt Urdan on -
Great topic. Like others have said, it's how you brag. It's an art form. It's taken me a long time to figure it out.
My last project was a six month long administration and execution of the International Whitewater Hall of Fame Election Process and Induction Event Dinner. We had guests and inductees from Britain, Germany and France in addition to from all over the U.S. It was a great event, and although I worked 90 hours that week to pull it off and personally drive 3 hours to Atlanta the night before to pick up the honoree arriving from France, the last thing I did that night was send an email to the entire staff at the Nantahala Outdoor Center--basically telling everyone how great the event was, what the feedback from the guests was, and while accepting the praise as the point person for the event, thanking at least 30 people by name for their help and contributions in making the event possible.
Was I bragging? Sure. It was an awesome event, everyone knew it, and I got heaped with tons of praise. But the act of sharing it with everyone else, while not only right to do and sincere, helps to build the people you work together with into an ironclad team.
My email to our staff is below: You tell me if you think it's effective or over the top or a good example of a productive form of bragging:
Dear fellow NOC Employees:
Do you remember what I said in my email when I had a small token of appreciation in the form of FUDGE for you all? Well tonight we hosted approximately two dozen legends of whitewater from all over the US, France, Britain, and Germany for the International Whitewater Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Event. I received a lot of kudos and a lot of thanks and congratulations for an event that we knocked out of the park, but I was just the point person. All of you are responsible for the success of this event and I wish all of you could have been there to experience the real radiation of positive energy in this group of 70 tonight.
I’m operating on about two hours of sleep in two days, but I want to recognize those of you who personally helped make this event an incredible success. In no particular order:
Emily Michaels at River’s End. When Holland Wallace, William Nealy’s widow checked into her room, the air conditioner was broken and there were ants in the bathroom. I was on my way to Atlanta to pick up another honoree. Emily called Scott Hill, and Scott and Ron Mitshke moved Holland into another room and made sure she was comfortable and followed up with me.
Pete Lucic. Tonight we had on display for sale and as a fundraiser two of the William Nealy Prints we printed last year. Melanie Singer recommended we try to sell them. Pete was the one who cleaned up the images in Photoshop to make the prints possible. Leigh Boike was the one who handled all the sales arrangements and fee collection.
Paige Christie who put the IWHOF Dinner Tickets up on the website to enable online sales.
Kevin Sisson and Ben Cates who made sure that the DVD system in the Pub was working and secured—it used to sit on the floor behind the bigscreen television, and who also made sure the PA System was working, and Kevin who tweaked it and helped out with the technical aspects during the event dinner.
Michelle Fortin who handled the group reservations, package sales, dinner tickets etc and had to put up with my impatience in getting a Subaru for use during the event.
Craig Plocica for facilitating the Subaru coordination.
Charles Conner for taking photos during the event and interviewing honorees.
Robin from photos for taking photos during the event so that we can get meaningful souvenirs of the event to all the honorees.
The Human Resources Team who provided me with a brochure stapler so that we could bind the IWHOF Event Program
Cindy Plunkett and Jennifer Philips who coordinated General Ledger and Payroll job codes for the IWHOF Event.
Dave Jordan and Robin Bokur for being supportive and easy to work with in getting IWHOF bills paid and getting a credit card for gas and last minute expenses for the event.
Leigh Boike who arranged for ticket sales in ROAM and who acted as hostess and cashier the night of the event.
Pat McDonnell who produced a DVD that blew everyone away and Will Norris for contributing voice overs on the DVD. I gotta tell you all, the DVD that Pat did was amazing. There was applause after every segment among the world’s greatest kayaking legends and whitewater advocates. There were tears of joy, of honor, of appreciation from the honorees, and I teared up just watching this reaction from everyone. Pat worked tirelessly, virtually around the clock on a very tight timeframe to produce this DVD video for the IWHOF event this evening.
Holly Pichard for taking care of all the details of a dinner that everyone believed was amazing. Raves for the vegetarian butternut squash. Raves for the Bistro Beef and the red skin potatoes. Holly and her team knocked it out of the park. The servers: Matt Wilkey, Dave Estling and Rose were awesome and efficient, as short-staffed as they were. Steve did a great job helping behind the scenes. The bathrooms were immaculate. Holly deserves a lot of credit for making NOC shine.
Becky at Slow Joe’s for helping Holly the day of the event and other behind the scenes help.
Chris Singletary who did the prep and who was at Relia’s every time I went in to the building to meet with Holly and prepare for the event. Much of the raves the honorees had for the food was due to Chris’s work in the kitchen.
Debbie Homich and the rafting center who had to try just a little harder to find guides for Saturday and this week since I wasn’t available.
Larry Norman and Dan Dutton and Zach and those in the store who made sure our guests received their lodging keys and event packets at check in.
Our Outfitter store clerks and rafting center staff who took extra special care of our honorees and their guests and who bent over backwards to accommodate their needs and to make them feel welcome.
Linda in housekeeping who helped Holland Wallace settle into her room at the Nantahala Inn and the rest of the housekeeping staff for letting her go to help me and Holland Wallace.
Villa Brewer and Cathy Kennedy, as inhabitants of the office next door to mine, who had to listen to my frustrations during this seven month process—which wasn’t always smooth—and who always had just the right encouraging word to say.
Sutton for his guidance and patience and for assigning this project in the first place.
Payson for participating in the event by introducing one of the honorees at the event. I can’t think of anyone better or more qualified to introduce a legend as great and so well-regarded as Eric Jackson.
Barb Hart for her thankless job of taking care of the landscaping, picking up trash and cigarette butts every single day and all the other things she does to beautify our grounds to give positive impressions to our guests.
The staff at Rivers End who impressed our guests with great breakfasts, lunches, restaurant service, and going the extra mile to track me down so our guests could get in touch with me so I could help them.
All the staff who have answered the phone and answered questions about the IWHOF Event.
Anyone else who helped but who I missed because it’s 11:30 at night and I can barely keep my eyes open.
After reading all of this, I think it’s pretty clear that we are all a team here at NOC. Rarely is there anything we do that doesn’t involve other employees. Often, many employees are involved in even the most routine of job responsibilities behind the scenes that we sometimes don’t think about how they’re there helping and supporting us when in reality, they are.
If you were at the event tonight, I’m sure you were glad you came and witnessed such an awesome congregation of whitewater legends. If you were at the event tonight, I’m sure you felt the energy in Relia’s and the Pub. If you were at the event tonight, I’m sure you realized that this event was a success, and I hope you felt just more than a little bit of pride about being part of this amazing company that we call NOC. Because, my friends, tonight we put on our best face to the world of whitewater boating. Cathy Hearn, current coach of the US C-1 and C-2 kayak team told me that Klaus Lettmann from Germany and Gilles Zok from France—both legends above legends—were so impressed with NOC that they will make it a point to return to NOC for future events, and that they will talk about us in a very positive way to their peers in France and Germany—describing the very positive experience they had here at NOC.
That response makes me glow with pride. That response makes my eyes tear just a little. And that response reflects on all of you who helped make their visit a success as you interacted with them, whether you knew it or not, as they have been our guests this weekend.
Thank you for your help. Thank you for making me look good—while I was the focal point for the praise, all of it was a reflection on all of your efforts.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I’m most proud to be able to work with all of you as part of the same team.
Sincerely Yours,
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Permalink Reply by Paul Paz on -
Matt...
Excellent example to follow and great perspective!
A while back, I posted a photo of the Banquet Crew from one of my events. I did it because in my presentation acknowledged all the other departments but them! As they were breaking down the meeting room, one of them approached me that they were hurt that I left them out.
I was so embarrassed at my fault that I caught the exec that hired me and made him take our picture right there on the spot. I promised them I would make them famous.
As soon as I could, I posted our pic on FOHBOH and sent the link to the execs, managers, and staff of the Banquet Staff.
One cannot ever forget those who make us successful.
There is an old saying, "Be careful who you step on as you climb the ladder of success... as you don’t know who you're going to run into on the way back down!"
Again, here's the GREAT Banquet Staff I worked with: http://www.fohboh.com/photo/photo/show?id=1411008%3APhoto%3A215461
Paul
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