For many business leaders, there’s one task that feels more painful than public speaking or back-to-back meetings: writing about themselves.
You’re not alone if you feel uncomfortable talking about your achievements. Whether it’s preparing for a business award submission, updating your bio, or writing a thought leadership piece, self-promotion can feel unnatural, even cringeworthy.
But here’s the truth: communicating your impact isn’t ego-driven. It’s essential. Especially in the world of business awards, it’s not about puffing up your chest, it’s about clearly showing the value you’ve created.
Here’s how to shift your mindset and speak about your success with clarity and confidence, without sounding like you’re bragging.
1. It’s not boasting, it’s demonstrating value and impact
Mindset shift: Move from “I’m bragging” to “I’m articulating the value I deliver.”
The hesitation around self-promotion often stems from the assumption that talking about your work is boastful. But in business, especially in leadership, results matter. Awards judges (and stakeholders) aren’t interested in how loudly you can speak about yourself, they’re looking for clear, measurable impact.
Instead of thinking, “How do I describe what I did?”, ask:
- What specific problem did I help solve?
- What were the measurable outcomes?
- What changed because of my involvement?
Focusing on outcomes helps remove the emotional discomfort of ‘talking yourself up’. You’re not reciting a highlight reel, you’re communicating real business value.
The takeaway:
Business awards aren’t designed for self-congratulation. They’re a mechanism for recognising success, innovation, and impact. In many ways, an award submission is a compelling case study and you’re simply presenting the facts.
2. Your success is shared success
Mindset shift: Recognise your achievements as a testament to your leadership, vision and team.
If you feel uncomfortable taking credit, reframe your thinking: your success likely didn’t happen in a vacuum. Great leaders enable great outcomes through vision, strategy, and empowering others.
When you share your achievements, you’re also elevating your team, your company culture, and the people who brought the vision to life.
Avoid generic team appreciation, instead, be specific about how you led and how your team delivered. The story of your impact is more complete (and authentic) when it includes others.
The takeaway:
Awards recognising leadership aren’t just for the person at the top. They reflect an organisation’s broader success. A leadership award can boost morale, attract talent, and validate your business culture in a powerful, visible way.
3. Awards are strategic opportunities, not just accolades
Mindset shift: View awards as a strategic business tool, not just a personal milestone.
Awards are more than nice moments on stage. Done right, they become levers for business growth. The benefits are tangible:
- Third-party validation that sets you apart in a crowded market
- Media exposure and social proof
- Stronger employer branding that attracts top-tier talent
- Opportunities to network and benchmark against your industry peers
If you’re applying for grants, pitching to investors, or entering new markets, an award win can enhance your credibility in ways your marketing copy never could.
The takeaway:
Awards are not just a pat on the back, they’re a signpost for excellence. They show clients, customers, and competitors that you’re not just saying you’re great. Someone else has said it for you.
4. Practical ways to get past the “I hate writing about myself” feeling
Still feel stuck? Try these practical strategies to shift the pressure off yourself:
Start small
Forget polished paragraphs. Jot down a list of key wins. What are you proud of? What results did you or your team drive? Use bullet points. Keep it messy.
Ask better questions
Instead of “What did I do?”, ask:
- “What problem did I help solve?”
- “What changed because of my input?”
- “Who benefited from this?”
These questions naturally shift your focus from yourself to your impact.
Get an outside perspective
Often, you’re too close to your own story to see what’s compelling. Ask a mentor or colleague to interview you. They’ll often spot value in things you might overlook or take for granted.
Don’t go it alone
If the thought of writing your own submission makes you want to run a mile, we can help. At Green Door Co, we work closely with leaders to draw out their impact stories and turn them into strategic, compelling award submissions. It’s about clarity, not spin and we make the process less overwhelming.
Final thoughts
If you’re making a real impact, it deserves to be recognised, not for ego’s sake, but because it sets a standard. Sharing your achievements isn’t vanity, it’s about building credibility.
When done well, writing about yourself isn’t self-promotion, it’s storytelling with purpose. It builds your business, strengthens your team, and raises the bar in your industry.
So if you’ve been putting off that submission or passing on the chance to nominate yourself — consider this your nudge.
Ready to get your story out there?
If you’re not sure where to begin (or how to talk about your impact without cringing) we can help. At Green Door Co, we work with leaders to turn their wins into award-worthy narratives that get noticed, without the fluff.
Contact us today to find out how we can support your next award submission — and help you make the most of your impact.
