The Word to Avoid When Tooting Your Own Horn

One of the reasons talking about yourself positively can be so uncomfortable is it feels like bragging to say, “I did that” or, “I received that award” or, “I increased her return on investment by 200%.” Of course, none of this should be uncomfortable but, in any case, there are ways to reduce discomfort, and one of them is to avoid using the word “I” too much when tooting your own horn.

Give Credit to Your Team

One way to avoid using the “I” word too much is to give credit to your team, too. Saying “we” and “my team” will help reduce any discomfort you feel, or others feel if you have a lot of good things to say about yourself and what you do. Spreading that credit around is true, and you’re still giving yourself credit by doing it, while also helping everyone find comfort in it.

Keep Everything Easy

Sometimes it’s hard to remember all the good things you’ve done, too. Every single day before you start your workday, take note of at least three or four things you’re doing that is helping your ideal customer. When you know the good things you, your team, and your business are doing for others, it’ll be easy to state them in a natural way when it comes up.

Understand Your Culture

This factor can be especially hard for women and minorities to deal with. For example, in the USA culture, white men can often brag in a very bodacious way without any pushback - whether it’s true or not. But women and people of color often are treated differently for bragging or talking about themselves too much. Knowing about this doesn’t mean you should change to fit that culture, but it can help you understand that you may want to use different words that delight instead of offending. Conversely, you may acknowledge it and not care. But do research how your culture affects the idea of self-promotion for you depending on your race, gender, and other factors.

Converse Naturally

One thing to remember is that the more you know about something, the easier it is to talk about it. Educate yourself about yourself and your company’s successes so that you can spout stats with knowledge and pride. When you are talking about the success you’re experiencing, it should feel natural and like a normal conversation even when you’re in the midst of a sales call.

Finding ways to state that your business increased conversions for your clients, or that your book was a number one best seller for a year, or other facts that are important to relay to the person you’re talking to either in person, via a sales page, or on social media, will make a huge difference in how people perceive you. Using words besides “I” will help.