Leaning in to our successes

When was the last time you bragged… but nicely?

How To Brag Nicely was the focus of an online masterclass I recently led for LeanInBarcelona.

For many women, sharing achievements can feel uncomfortably close to boasting, or bragging.

But here’s the thing: if we don’t put ourselves forward, who will?

We need strategies to use our voice—to promote ourselves, our ideas and our work—with confidence and authenticity.

Here’s what we uncovered in our discussion (which included a fun, healthy brag swap 🥂):

✨ Sharing an achievement is telling a story

Think of it as a story with a protagonist (you!) who goes on a journey, with supporting characters, obstacles overcome, lessons learned, and a positive outcome.

When we frame achievements this way, they stop being “brags” and become inspiring narratives others want to hear.

💪 Letting go of diminishing language is a process

How often do we dilute our own power?

We use phrases like: “I’d just like to share…” “This is probably obvious, but…” “Does that make sense?”

Sound familiar? These pesky words make us sound hesitant and unsure.

We all agreed: the first step to breaking the habit is awareness. Then we remove those words, little by little.

🧵 The invisible threads are important too

We’re more than our job titles or CVs.

Every experience—internships, hobbies, holiday jobs, passions, causes—contributes to the “invisible threads” that make us who we are.

Owning those stories means fully embracing who we are, not just what we’ve done.

Our conclusion?

Bragging nicely isn’t about shouting—it’s about sharing.

Speak with quiet confidence. Own your stories.

And share them with the world.

Photo by Frances Gunn on Unsplash