No matter how confident you are, it’s normal to feel at least a little nervous when a prospective client or interviewer asks you to “tell me something about yourself.”
The way you speak about yourself, however, shapes the opinion others have of who you are as a person.
That’s why it’s so important to be able to speak about ourselves with confidence. Just as our self-talk can empower us, how we speak about ourselves to others has the power to open doors to new opportunities.
Claim Your Power
When someone asks you to tell them about yourself, how does it make you feel? What do you say? Do you speak with confidence about your talents and accomplishments or do you find yourself groping for words?
One reason this question fills most of us with such dread is that we feel uncomfortable talking out loud about ourselves. Introverts, who tend to be more reserved by nature, are especially challenged by this question. When you are introverted, talking about yourself simply feels wrong.
It may feel as though you are boasting when you openly speak of your talents and accomplishments. If talking about yourself makes you feel awkward, you might find yourself holding back and undermining your importance and your abilities.
If you want others to have full confidence in you and present you with new opportunities, claim your power and share what’s so great about you.
Give them what they want
The question isn’t an opportunity to waffle. Think about what they might want to know, and it’s quite likely to be about you, your values, the way you see the world, and how that shows in your work. You’ve heard of elevator pitches? This is a good time to think along those lines. So, a short overview of some career highlights, how they polished the skills you have, and how you can use those skills to help the company you want to work for. Just keep it short and succinct.
Speak with confidence
As a leader, you need to put your best foot forward. What you say about yourself to others is a constant statement about whether they should trust you and offer you the job. Stop sabotaging yourself by holding back.
Speak out about your accomplishments and claim credit for your ideas. Emphasise the actions you took to turn things around or improve performance and achieve objectives and goals.
Talking with confidence isn’t just about claiming our wins. It’s also about understanding what’s important to you because those are the things which underpin the details you decide to share about yourself. It will help you express yourself much more clearly.
When we are secure in our abilities and speak confidently about ourselves, our audience will radiate this confidence back to us, providing yet another boost to our self-esteem. Rather than being filled with fear at the thought of talking about ourselves, we should embrace these moments. After all, being asked this dreaded question is your opportunity to shine and make your case for why you are exactly the right person for this opportunity.
How do you feel when you are asked to talk about yourself? Are you putting your best foot forward or is your speech derailing the progress of your career? Get in touch today to learn how we can help you recognise and share your true strengths,
