Yesterday I asked a client a simple question:
“What’s one thing you’re good at?”
They paused. They hesitated. And they honestly struggled to answer.
And they’re not alone.
So many of us freeze when it comes to talking about what we do well. We call it “tooting our own horn,” and it feels awkward, uncomfortable, or even a little braggy.
Here are some reasons why:
1️⃣ We can’t see it. The things we’re great at often feel “easy,” so we assume they don’t count.
2️⃣ We don’t want to brag. Corporate culture often rewards humility, and we don’t want to look self-promotional.
3️⃣ We chase perfection. We think we can’t claim we’re good at something unless we’re flawless at it. (Funny how we don’t hold others to the same standard.)
4️⃣ We lack practice. Talking about ourselves is a skill, and like any skill, it feels clunky at first if we never practice it.
So what do we do?
Step 1: Name it.
Take time to reflect on your strengths. What comes naturally? Where do people often thank you or ask for your help? If you’re stuck, ask a colleague, manager, or friend. Sometimes others see our strengths more clearly than we do.
Step 2: Practice it.
Say it out loud. Start small—tell yourself in the mirror, then try it with a friend, a coach, or a trusted colleague. The more you practice, the less awkward it feels.
Step 3: Frame it right at work.
There’s a difference between bragging and educating. Instead of “Look what I did,” try:
- “One thing that worked really well in this project was…”
- “I’d love to do more work like this because…”
- “Here’s how I approached it, in case that’s helpful for the team.”
This shows your value in a way that builds credibility without sounding self-serving.
The truth is, if you can’t name what you’re good at, it’s harder for others to see it, reward it, or give you more opportunities to use it.
So here’s my challenge for you this week:
Comment or message me back and tell me one thing you’re good at.
No qualifiers, no “buts,” just one clear statement.
I promise it feels good to say it out loud.
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