This is the second in a second series of blog posts that will look at four personal strategies you can put in place to overcome the barriers to women’s advancement in the workplace. The first series looked at the myths that act as barriers, as discussed in a workshop moderated by Deborah Gillis, Vice President, Catalyst Canada at our WiN-Canada Conference  held in Ottawa on Feb. 27, 2008. Catalyst is the leading nonprofit corporate membership research and advisory organization working globally with businesses and the professions to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women and business.

Strategy #2 - Build and manage your reputation. Practice constructive self-promotion.

This is one strategy I personally need to work on. I think this area of improvement probably stems from my upbringing and being told not to boast or brag. “Nothing worse than a bragger” was the coined phrase.

When I first started out in business I truly believed working hard and showing initiative were enough to have your accomplishments noted and rewarded. Over the years I’ve learned while a quick thank you and some well spoken words of praise might come on the heels of an assignment, it quickly faded as I moved on to the next project or assignment. In other words people appreciated my efforts at the time, but they had no staying power. So what is a girl to do...

Catalyst offers up the following suggestions:

1. Keep track of your skills, accomplishments, contributions and performance - When I have to go and update my resume I have a hard time remembering all the great projects I worked on and what my accomplishments and contributions were. If I can’t remember I can hardly expect upper management to. I heard a speaker once offer up that you should email your boss every Friday afternoon and tell her or him exactly what you accomplished during the week. He suggested the rewards were two fold - your boss knew exactly what you were working on and it reinforced the contribution you were making to the team.

2. Demonstrate your knowledge - Learn to articulate your interests and previous successes. Identify partners and opportunities and be at the ready with quick references to your successes. Practice in the mirror if you have to. Become comfortable talking about your accomplishments. Think about why it is easier to tell your best friend about your accomplishments than your boss. Try and find that same comfort zone when speaking with superiors. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your boss should notice without any prompting from you. Your boss isn’t managing your reputation or career - you are!

3. Ask for feedback - Know when it’s appropriate to ask for feedback. Ask for areas of strengths and improvement. Understand informal or subtle feedback and learn from what you are told. Becoming defensive when receiving feedback closes doors. Remember feedback is not criticism, but an opportunity to learn and grow.

There is a big difference between self-promotion and horn-tooting. I expect the lesson I was being taught growing up was not to ‘toot my own horn’. We have all had to listen to the horn-tooter and know it can quickly become too much.

This week make a list of your recent accomplishments and ways you contributed to a team or project. Review them often so they are top of mind. Look for opportunities to interject your successes into conversations with people who should know what you’ve accomplished. Take the opportunity to ask for feedback, when appropriate, and learn and grow from the advice given.

Celebrate your success!

If you have an experience you’d like to share on building and managing your reputation please leave a comment. Maybe you have additional tips you’d like to share? Join the conversation so we can all learn from each other.