Sharing Your Wins
Let me tell you how I’ve learned how important it is to self-advocate—to share your successes and speak up about what you’re working on.
For a long time in my career, I was the type to keep my head down and quietly do my work—often doing as much as, if not more than, everyone else. That’s how I earned respect. That’s how I became a trusted advisor to my coworkers. And, ultimately, that’s how I ended up being asked to join teams and was offered promotions that I had the confidence to request.
It is not my natural tendency to talk about myself. I’m not the most social person. While some people get energized by being around others, I recharge in solitude. That personality trait made it even more uncomfortable to speak up about myself at work. It felt unnatural—like bragging—for a long time.
However, I began to learn the importance of self-promotion years ago, when I found myself reporting to someone who only seemed to recognize the more outgoing, bubbly members of the team. These teammates had a way of making even the smallest task sound like they’d saved the day. Meanwhile, I was always in the background, tying up loose ends, identifying gaps in plans and processes, and playing a key role in holding everything together.
I started to feel invisible. While others were getting praise, I was putting out fires and fixing things behind the scenes without recognition. And honestly? I realized that, in many ways, I’m actually more comfortable being in the background. I don’t need the spotlight. I don’t care much about public recognition—but I do care that my work is valued fairly, and that shows up in how I’m compensated.
Eventually, things came to a head. My direct manager sat me down for a heart-to-heart. She encouraged me to start vocalizing the things I was doing—regularly. She explained that I didn’t need to wait until I had something monumental to report. Instead, she urged me to highlight and summarize my progress along the way so she could advocate for me up the chain.
All of this was because our department lead had started to question the value I brought to the team. Not to sound cocky, but at the time, that was laughable.
Since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to be more vocal. Understand, though—this is something I still have to challenge myself on. It’s not my natural tendency. I don’t do “small talk,” and championing my day-to-day tasks felt, at first, like I was putting on a show.
But what I’ve discovered is this: the relationship I have with my manager evolves when I shift the mindset. It’s not about getting their approval. It’s about giving them the tools to speak knowledgeably about the work I’m doing—so they can advocate on my behalf to their leadership, too.
Here’s What Happens When You Share Your Wins:
1. You avoid being overlooked.
When you don’t speak up, someone else might get credit for doing the same work—or doing it with less impact. No shade to anyone else, but if you’re doing quality work, it just doesn’t make sense to leave it invisible.
2. You make your manager’s job easier.
When you share weekly updates with your boss—even if you don’t meet weekly—consider sending a quick summary via Slack or email. Think of it as marketing yourself. You’re giving them digestible talking points they can use to easily advocate for you. You’re not overselling—you’re simply making your value visible.
3. You build trust.
Let’s say you’re between projects. If you proactively tell your manager how you’re staying productive during downtime—helping other teams, cleaning up documentation, or learning a new tool—they see you as self-motivated and reliable. That way, when you need to set a boundary later (like logging off early every Thursday for your daughter’s piano lesson), it’s already understood that you’re a responsible and valuable employee.
4. You make performance reviews easier—and better.
This habit of regularly sharing your work pays off especially during performance review season. Typically, you and your manager both reflect on your performance before meeting. If you’ve been sharing your progress along the way, your manager is better positioned to recall and highlight specific moments where you overcame obstacles or showed leadership.
And if you experienced a tough situation with a coworker or client that made its way into feedback, your regular communication gives your manager valuable context—they’re more likely to have your back and speak knowledgeably on your behalf.
5. You open the door to new opportunities.
When you keep your manager in the loop—even with updates that feel boring to you—they might notice a pattern or strength you didn’t. They might suggest going out for a promotion, or connect you with someone doing similar work elsewhere in the company. You just never know what could come from these regular conversations.
Sharing Builds Connection
To bring this idea home, here’s a personal example that has nothing to do with work—but everything to do with communication and connection.
My husband and I often have to remind ourselves to have regular conversations with each other—outside of the day’s logistics. Between work, homeschooling, and keeping up with our household, it’s easy to slip into only sharing the highlights or what still needs to get done. But when we slow down and share the small details—the in-between moments—it deepens our connection. We laugh. We swap ideas. We understand each other better.
Sharing your wins and updates with your manager can work the same way. You’re not just listing tasks—you’re building trust and rapport. You’re laying the foundation for the flexibility and support you’ll want and need later. And you’re showing up for yourself, in a way that makes your work and your worth visible.
My Suggestion
Take a moment this week to share one win with your manager – even if it feels small. Try it in an email, a Slack message or during a check-in. Build the habit of being visible, one update at a time. You might be surprised by how far it takes you.