Master the Art of Self-Promotion: 3 Strategies for Healthcare Professionals to Overcome the Fear of Writing About Themselves
By Claire Sakaoka, Owner, Chief Strategist
As a healthcare professional, you spend hours upon hours talking to and writing about your patients, their outcomes, and your employees.
So, when it comes time to update or rewrite your resume, why is it so hard? And when people ask you to tell them a little about yourself, why do you suddenly feel like that shy kid in class who is being called on unexpectedly?
Don’t worry! You are not alone. Most of the healthcare professionals I work with feel this way. It’s perfectly normal. When you are so good at what you do, you focus on the work and not yourself. It’s a really wonderful personality trait to have. However, it is not so helpful when it comes time to talk yourself up, whether for a presentation or a potential job opportunity.
Do you have any of these thoughts when you start to write about yourself or rehearse your speech and stare at a blank page?
There’s nothing unique about me.
I don’t want to come across as narcissistic.
My accomplishments are small compared to others.
These thoughts are common, but will shake your confidence unnecessarily. They can derail you and keep you from achieving success. I get it—nobody wants to be a narcissist. But there’s a difference between true narcissism and telling your story and talking about your strengths. So, if you find yourself thinking about any of these things, it’s time to reframe your thoughts.
Here’s what you can do:
Accept that you do have a unique story.
That’s the beauty of it being YOUR story. While you may inwardly think there’s nothing unique about it, that’s not true. It’s one of the beautiful things about being human—we are all unique.
So, how do you begin identifying the unique parts of your story?
Think about your life and create a journal entry of sorts where you start writing out key events that pop out in your mind. Everyone has these pivotal moments (you may even be thinking of one or two as you read this). Your brain is holding onto these moments for a reason. Those are the times in your life when something shifts, imprints, and changes you. They are significant so don’t be so quick to dismiss them.
Be brave and dig a little deeper into those moments and write them down. Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, flow, or anything – just write. When you are done, re-read it. If nothing significant pops out at you, let a trusted friend read it and then ask them, “What do you think makes me different?” I can almost guarantee they will be able to answer that question after reading it, even if you are still blind to it. Next, ask them or yourself, “How do you think I’ve carried this into my work life?”
Pretend you are writing about your best friend.
Put aside the thought that you will come across as bragging and write. Think of yourself in the third person, like your best friend or someone you love. After journaling key moments in your life, shift gears and create a list of positive attributes you possess. If this is uncomfortable, ask trusted friends and family to give you positive feedback about yourself. Let them know why you are asking, and they will be more than happy to shed some light on how they see you and where your strengths lie. These become your key soft skills, which are often highly desirable leadership qualities.
Make a list of all your professional accomplishments.
I know, I know. Life is long, and memory is short, but do your best. Start with your most recent work experience and list what you accomplished in that role. Don’t worry yet if they seem insignificant or not. After you’ve created your list, apply the C.A.R. resume method. The most powerful accomplishments can clearly state a Challenge, Action, and Results (C.A.R.). You clearly define the challenge you faced and describe the action taken and the results achieved. The challenge and the action are often interchangeable in the writing formula.
Example 1: Deployed resources to implement patient safety clinical pathways for catheter-associated UT infections (40% reduction) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (50% reduction).
Example 2: Identified and implemented revenue growth opportunities to support XYZ Health FY2024 goal of a $500M gain toward a positive 1.2% operating margin.
So, the next time you tell yourself there’s nothing unique about you, pause for a moment, reframe that thought, and follow the steps above. It takes practice, but you can push through the uncomfortable feeling and tell your story in a way that makes you say, “I can’t believe that’s really me!”
Remember: It’s up to you to toot your own horn. Everyone else is busy doing the same; they don’t have time or the inclination to do it for you!