Self-Promotion and being a Likeable Badass
Hey there Scientist Mothers! I am here to share a new resource I think you will LOVE.
đź“• The resource: New book, Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success they Deserve (see excerpt in article below). Author, Alison Fragale, is a behavioral scientist, Associate Professor Emeritus of Organizational Behavior at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, and mother of three. The book is equal parts behavioral science and life hacks, weaving together rigorous research with actionable advice and impactful stories from a diverse array of women.
📢 Self-Promotion: Alison frequently cites research showing that while self-promotion in the workplace is crucial for both genders, women face additional challenges due to societal expectations around assertiveness and warmth. Women often risk being seen as "too assertive" or "unlikable" if they engage in the same level of self-promotion as their male counterparts, due to gendered stereotypes.
She also argues, however, that đź‘Ź doing 90% of the work with self-promotion can be far more effective than doing 150% of the work without it. đź‘Ź I have personally been learning this lesson lately and find it to be very true.
âť“ So how can women engage in self-promotion while reducing backlash and even ELEVATING their status and likeability?
Alison encourages women to “tell your story”—making sure your achievements are visible but doing so in a way that maintains warmth, not just competence.
For example, she talks about the âś… "brag and thank" strategy âś…: highlighting your accomplishments while expressing gratitude to those who helped make them possible, combining self-promotion with appreciation.
Another strategy I would add? ✅Cultivating opportunities for others to promote your accomplishments on your behalf. ✅ Sending “brag and thank” emails to your leaders and sponsors who might share them in larger forums. Working with your institution’s media relations team to promote your work. As a leader myself, I try to do this as much as possible for mentees, colleagues, and the scientist mothers with whom I have the honor of working in Pitt Mothers Leading Science and MasterMind Executive Leadership.
What self-promotion strategies have worked well for you?
How have you balanced warmth and assertiveness?
How do you cultivate others promoting your accomplishments on your behalf?
#SelfPromotion #LikeableBadass #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #CareerAdvancement #WorkplaceStrategies #Assertiveness #Kindness #CareerDevelopment #WomenInScience #Sponsorship
