Our latest assignment in presentation skills was to write and present a three-minute speech about our greatest achievement. Topics ranged anywhere from excelling in sports to performing in front of a large crowd. The speeches were great, yet my peers and I all said the same thing about the assignment – writing speeches about yourself is EXTREMELY difficult.
You would think that being in the business of PR, writing and talking is something that comes naturally to us. For the most part, it does, but somehow, writing and talking about yourself is one of the hardest things to do.
I think it has a lot to do with the voice – how can you best articulate yourself without sounding arrogant or incompetent? What about the audience – do you find it harder when you are presenting to peers or to strangers?
What do you think it is that holds you back? Why is talking about yourself so hard to do?
CJ's PR et al. 
February 18, 2008 at 12:19 am
Something about the whole premise of talking about your greatest achievement may appear like bragging to some. Simply put, my greatest achievement may sound juvenile compared to yours. It’s all about perceptions and feeling comfortable in your own skin.
I believe I would feel more comfortable talking to a bunch of strangers than talking to people I know. I guess the whole realm of uncertainty makes it easier to get the nerve to “brag” about my life.
February 18, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Many of us were brought up with this message from our parents: “don’t blow your own horn.” So, we aren’t comfortable drawing attention to our achievements.
In business, this won’t get you very far. If you won’t let your boss and peers know about your significant accomplishments, then, who will?
Also, most of us tend to underestimate our own power and it takes some time to get familiar with what we really have to offer.
February 18, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I have always felt uneasy talking about my achievements. Partly, because of what Christine said about parents cautioning their children to not blow their horn. Partly, because of the difficulty I have thinking about me in a subjective manner.
It’s a bit of a relief to realize that I am not alone; however, this is an area that we all have to feel comfortable with if we are to succeed as public relations practitioners.
February 18, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Maybe I was brought up backwards, but my parents always taught me the value of speaking up and standing tall. I absolutely believe in the power of voice.
I don’t find it difficult standing infront of an audience, be they strangers or peers. What made this assignment difficult for me was actually choosing an accomplishment worthy of the title “greatest achievement.” It’s difficult to label something like that with so little experience.
February 19, 2008 at 12:00 am
That’s a good point Brandon. I think many of us didn’t know what we could consider our greatest achievement because it was such a broad thing to talk about. It definitely shows through the variety of topics that were talked about.
March 5, 2008 at 12:13 pm
You’re not alone in dealing with this conundrum: PR folks are very good at touting their organizations’ horns, but very tentative about touting their personal or PR horns. It’s one of the reasons the image of PR generally seems to languish, decade after decade.
Of course, it’s not limited to PR. I know marriage counsellors whose own wedded bliss is in shambles, and family studies teachers who balk at the idea of having to cook supper when they get home.