Five ideas for showcasing your expertise when you are too shy to be shouty

I was recently at a networking event when one woman mentioned that her husband regularly wrote blog posts on LinkedIn to showcase his expertise.

She shared that this was something she could never do due to nervousness. A lot of people feel like this. You know you’re doing great work but your don’t want to put your head above the parapet. It feels bad to get shot down when you are only trying to share.

The good news is that there are a lot of great ways to share your expertise. You can choose the options that are most comfortable to you. There are some people who are great at getting out there but recently there has been more awareness of how different personalities and styles can get ahead. I’ll be the first to admit that I am happy to be more on the shouty side most of the time, but even I have to challenge myself on occasion. Here are some of my top tips for sharing your skills.

Post on social media about your learning

Do you have a LinkedIn and Twitter account? If not, stop what you are doing and set these up now. These tools are some of the best ways to stay engaged on the career front. The next time you go to a career or networking event take a couple of photos, share a key learning and then post it online. The event might even have its own hashtag. It might seem scary at first, but if you double check spelling you should be ok. The reality is that not many people will look at your page or links when you first begin posting. The vast majority or people online are “lurkers” i.e. they look but never say anything. Some of my posts on Linkedin might only get five or six “likes” even if I can see that there are hundreds of views. Views are important though as it could be a view by a top recruiter or your next boss.

Start career conversations

Use social media to reach out to experts in your field or to help answer questions. There are sites like Quora where people post career questions and engage on any number of topics. You can help people learn more about a field you know and understand well by engaging in conversation and commenting. This is a good way to help people and solve problems. LinkedIn used to have this feature as well but they retired it a few years ago. I found a list of some other places to post here so you may want to take a look.

Write a blog

Getting your thoughts on paper is helpful not just for yourself but also for others who could benefit from your insights. Starting a blog is easy and in many cases it is free if you are using tools like WordPress. If one or two posts go viral it could give your career and credibility a huge boost. Be sure to post regularly – at least once a month.

Update your profiles

Your internal work directory page, Linkedin, Twitter, and other profiles all play a role in developing your personal brand. If you do not have a recent professional photo (sorry but a cropped wedding shot won’t do), be sure to get one as soon as possible. You need a new photo every three to five years. It is really sad when I see people using images that are seven to ten years old. You also need to review your profile text every quarter. This is good way to ensure that you are listing any new qualifications, courses or career changes. Link to articles you have written and load any photos you may not have posted yet. Spend time looking at other people’s profiles to ensure that you are keeping up with the times. Your profile might look out of date if you are not paying
attention.

Join professional organisations and participate

Joining a professional organisation is a great way to help build credibility. You should add all of these memberships to your online profiles. It is also important to get engaged. Is there a committee you can join or an opportunity to speak? This is a great way to
target your skills and abilities through the simple act of participating and staying engaged. Be sure to highlight your engagement at conferences and events by posting on social media.

Hopefully, these top tips will help you push forward in your career. You might not be the one who speaks up in meetings or sends powerpoints to your boss showcasing your latest endeavour. That’s OK. Just don’t forget to find a way to shine.

About the author

Joy Adams is a blogger and one of WATCs 2015 Rising Stars. She is a British-American businesswoman who has worked in both the public and private sectors in the US and UK. Joy currently serves on the Advisory Board for Vital Voices Europe, an organization dedicated to supporting and developing women leaders. She also writes a lifestyle blog for budding philanthropists and art collectors at Luxeher.com.

The Workher blog is all about taking your work life to the next level with practical tips and details on the latest news about pay, progression, and opportunities.

Blog: http://luxeher.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/luxeher

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxe_her/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/luxeher/

About the author

J. Adams is a blogger and one of WATCs 2015 Rising Stars. She is a British-American businesswoman who has worked in both the public and private sectors in the US and UK. The WorkHer blog is all about taking your work life to the next level with practical tips and ideas. All views are her own.
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