A new video coming your way which is a game changer. When you think about any meeting where you need to get buy-in for an upcoming project, program, initiative, request (whenever you are being called to self-promote and make things happen) you are usually communicating in 1 of 2 ways: recapping the past or fast forwarding to the future.

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In the above coaching video I speak to these two communication styles when speaking your value, which in my book there never really is a time when you're NOT. It's a gutsy non-negotiable.

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An interesting difference found between men and women is that when it comes to self-promotion, women tend to talk about what they achieved (past-tense).  Yet a carefully tuned ear will hear men speaking to the future consistently. They are perceived to have no qualms about self-promoting all of the projects they will (future-tense) slam-dunk in a few short sentences.

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As your coach, if you have to choose, choose FUTURE. People who put their faith in you are looking to you to paint the picture on what you can bring to the table. How can you benefit them? Speak to your future impact or what I call Visionary Self-Promotion. Although your achievements matter, it’s more important to talk about the results that you have yet to bring, as if you have already been given the green light to do so. The key is to ACT AS IF.

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Rationally, I know that YOU KNOW you need to sell yourself to move the needle, yet here’s the rub. As you keep growing in your role and experience, you continue to talk about what you've done really well (PAST) and how it applies but you need to flip it around and speak to how that experience will ultimately benefit others (FUTURE). That’s when people straighten up and listen. They don’t want to hear what you have done brilliantly. They want to hear your belief in you. That’s when your expert value rises, through the continual process of authentically promising on what you can deliver (FUTURE) so that it becomes as natural as breathing.

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Those that “buy” into you, are in reality buying into your results.  The beauty of this process is as you stand your ground talking about what you have done well and what you can do even better, you inevitably raise your confidence  level which energetically is what people will feel as well. Oh YES, It's a beautiful thing when you answer that gutsy call. : )

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People will weigh-in on how relevant you are based on how relevant you see yourself first. This by the way applies to not just you, but also your team, if you need BUY-IN to make things happen for your people as well.

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‘Care less about what people think and more about what you have to say and why you are the most qualified to talk about it.’