Many women find it difficult to tell their own personal story. They can rave on about a co-worker and her or his accomplishments, but if asked to talk about what they do, they get that ‘deer caught in the headlights’ look and draw a blank. Why is it so difficult to talk about our own accomplishments?

When I ask women why it is difficult for them to relay their own story I often hear comments like: “I can’t brag,” “I don’t want to sound pushy,” “I hate talking about what I do,” or “I wish my work would simply speak for itself.” It is easy enough to tell your best friend or your mother about your accomplishments, but not so easy to share this information with others.

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to help organize a Skills Canada Networking Dinner. This dinner allows high school female students to attend a dinner and talk to a variety of women working in the skilled trades and technologies who become mentors for the evening. These mentors are asked to come and share what a day in the life of their chosen career looks like, to inspire the young women in attendance to look at the skilled trades as a career option. Every year when I am making calls to solicit a new mentor I get the same apprehension, “I won’t know what to say,” or “I’m not sure my personal story would be of any interest.” I can usually persuade them to attend and give it a try when I make it clear they will be with other women from the same job family and they will have lots of support. When I go around and listen to the stories I am always amazed at the interesting and inspiring story these same women - who didn’t have anything to add - are actually telling the young women in attendance. From the woman who decided to pick up a trade at 39 so she could better support her family, to the woman who works in a welding shop with all male colleagues and absolutely loves it. All 20 of the women at the dinner had an amazing and wonderfully inspiring story to tell. Most just didn’t recognize it.

We all need to have our personal mini-commercial at the ready for that 20 second ride up the elevator from the ground floor to the sixth, with the CEO, for when she or he asks you what you do. Here is your 20 seconds to impress the top of the house. Are you lost for words and just blurt out your occupation title or do you have that 20 second sound bite that is going to capture her or his interest? It is an interesting question to ask yourself. What would you say?

We should all be able to promote ourselves in that 20 second sound bite or in two minutes or longer when given the opportunity. Go away this week and think about what you would say about what you are working on. Not what your department is working on, but what you personally are working on and tie that into an accomplishment from past or present. Put those thoughts into a sentence or two to have ready for that opportunity to promote you, and then seize the opportunity.