How To Advocate For Yourself Without Feeling Uncomfortable (What Taylor Swift Taught Me About Self Promotion)

When was the last time you intentionally promoted yourself at work?

I’m willing to bet you know how important self-advocacy is for your career growth, but you cringe every time the topic comes up.

It feels uncomfortable to even talk about it, not to mention do it. You don’t want to be seen as vain or ungrateful, so you avoid it.

You may feel like you are doing the right thing by being humble, but you are not really doing anyone a favor. Especially not yourself.

It’s like that saying: if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, did it make a sound?

When no one knows about your achievements, it’s almost like they never happened… and all your hard work goes in vain.

There is no way around it. Career growth requires self-promotion.

So, how do you overcome the uncomfortable feeling and learn to advocate for yourself confidently?

You take a cue from Taylor Swift.

Three Self-Promotion Strategies You Can Copy From Taylor Swift

I will be honest: I’m a big fan of Taylor Swift. While I like her music, what I really admire is her business acumen. She has mastered marketing herself without making you feel you are being sold to.

Here’s how you can use the same strategies to advocate for yourself at work without feeling icky.

1. The Greatest Hits

What do you hope to hear when you attend a Taylor Swift concert? The greatest hits, of course! These are the songs that define the artist’s career, the ones that fans know and love. Similarly, in the corporate world, you must highlight your "greatest hits" – your key accomplishments and contributions showcasing your value.

Those are the cornerstones of your reputation and how people remember you.

Your greatest hits help you stay top of mind, solidify your reputation, and demonstrate your competence.

It would be a shame if you mentioned a great achievement once and then moved on, especially because most people won’t even remember. Nowadays, we need to see or hear something seven times before we remember it…

Identify your greatest hits, and get comfortable with sharing them.

2. The Satellite Effect

For her last tour, Taylor Swift did something brilliant to make billions of dollars. Most artists just sell concert tickets, but Taylor went further.

She recorded the tour, made it into a movie, and sold cinema tickets. Then, she sold the movie rights to a TV network for hundreds of millions, allowing more people to enjoy the tour from home.

One concert, three revenue streams. Taylor maximized her ROI by leveraging her work in multiple ways.

You can do the same by repurposing your work achievements. For example, a successful project can be highlighted in a case study, mentioned in a company-wide email, and discussed in industry forums or conferences.

The satellite approach is a great way to increase exposure for your wins and get the most value for your effort. Here’s an example:

First, share a win with your leader.

“Here is the problem we set to solve; here is how we solved it; here is the result.”

Then, share it as part of a team update or an all-hands.

“Here is the project we worked on and how it aligns with company goals; here is the successful result and what we learned from it.”

A few weeks from now, mention your achievement as an example of a successful decision you’ve made to increase your credibility when pitching a new idea.

“Earlier this year, we dealt with this problem and successfully achieved result Y. Based on what we learned, I suggest this strategy as the next step.”

You will repackage your achievement by adding a different context and speaking to a different audience.

3. The Squad

If there is one thing better than proudly advocating for yourself, it is having other people spread the word for you.

That’s why you need advocates; I have testimonials on my website, and that’s why Taylor has Swifties.

Taylor’s loyal fan base is why her albums and concerts break every possible record. Her “squad” amplifies her voice, creates buzz and excitement, and supports launches.

Just as Swifties amplify Taylor's voice, having a strong support network in the workplace can help advocate for your contributions. Colleagues and mentors who recognize your value can help spread the word about your achievements.

Just imagine how much more effective it would be if senior leadership heard about your achievements from not one but four different advocates without you having to work harder.

You’ll quadruple your exposure without having to feel uncomfortable selling yourself all the time.

Your next steps

Advocating for yourself in the corporate environment is not about boasting but ensuring your hard work and achievements are recognized and rewarded.

You wouldn’t buy an expensive shirt and only wear it once, right?

Then, don’t invest time and effort into your achievements and only talk about them once (or not at all).

You can make sure your contributions are visible and appreciated by consistently highlighting your "greatest hits" and using multiple platforms to share your successes. Take a page from Taylor Swift's playbook: don't be afraid to share your story and celebrate your successes in various ways. After all, if you don't advocate for yourself, who will?

I believe in you, and I’m rooting for you.

Maya ❤️