How many times have you brushed off your wins, without realizing it?

"It was no big deal."
"I just did my job."
"Anyone else would’ve done the same."

These phrases may feel humble, but they diminish the impact you’ve made. If you dismiss your own contributions, others will too.

This is easily the biggest growth gap I see smart, capable women fall into that delays their promotions.

They work hard. They drive results. Everyone relies on them. And yet, they remain stuck in their role longer than needed because their impact is not clearly highlighted or recognized.

So know this. Owning your wins isn’t arrogant. It’s necessary.

It ensures your work is seen, valued, and rewarded the way you deserve. When you confidently own your wins, you also give leaders a clear reason to see you as ready for more, just like my client learned to do.

Here's how.

3 steps to own your wins with confidence

1. Keep track of your wins regularly

One of the fastest ways to build confidence in owning your accomplishments is to track them in real time. When you record your wins weekly or monthly, you stop scrambling to remember them during performance reviews or interviews, and start speaking with clarity and authority.

Pro tip: Ask yourself, "What wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t here?" as this shift helps you separate team results from your individual impact.

Here’s how to put this into action:

→ Keep a cheer journal: Whether in a notebook, a Notes app, or an email draft, jot down your wins so you can easily speak to them and keep them top of mind.

"I led [X project] which drove [Y measurable result]."
"I was recognized by [name] for my role in [specific contribution]."

→ Review it monthly: At the end of each month, scan your notes and look for patterns. Ask yourself which skills show up again and again in these wins? It helps you see your strengths clearly and prepares you for promotion conversations and informal career chats, especially with senior leaders.

→ Share them out loud: When asked "how’s the project going?", don’t just say "good." Try:

"I'm so glad you asked. I’m really proud that the campaign I led brought in 200+ new signups in the first week. I'm continuing to monitor it closely as it's looking like we will exceed the initial target by 20%."

The more you practice putting your wins into words, the more natural it feels and the easier it becomes for others to see your value.

[Check out my free LinkedIn Learning nano-course How to Advocate for Yourself in Your Career]

2. Celebrate the "how"

When sharing your wins, don’t stop at what you achieved. Shine a light on how you did it. The "how" showcases your leadership, problem-solving, and resilience, which are exactly what leaders look for when assessing your readiness for the next step.

Use my simple What-How-Result framework sharing what you did, how you did it and the result it brought.

What: "I led the launch of X project…"
​How: "…by coordinating 4 global teams and refining the strategy for local markets…"
​Result: "…which doubled our portfolio volume and became a best practice."

Notice how the "how" reveals the skills that got you there. Without it, others may assume success was automatic or that someone else drove it. Here's how you can apply it in key career moments.

→ In a performance review:

"I secured the client renewal (what) by anticipating their concerns and redesigning our proposal (how), which increased the contract value by 30% (result)."

→ In an interview:

"I reduced onboarding time (what) by creating a cross-team workflow (how), which cut training time by 2 weeks (result)."

→ In a team meeting:

"I delivered ahead of deadline (what) because I introduced weekly check-ins and reprioritized tasks (how), which freed up resources for the next launch (result)."

By owning the how, you make your wins both visible and replicable showing you’re not just delivering results, but leading the path to get there.

[Check out my recent newsletter on how to run your performance review]

3. Be proactive in advocating for yourself

Don’t wait for someone to hand you the spotlight. Create your own moments to share your wins.
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Proactive advocacy ensures your work is visible not only to your boss, but also to key decision-makers and your wider professional network.This isn’t bragging. Rather, it’s about taking charge of your narrative so others don't assume it for you.

→ Communicate clearly: Instead of vague updates, be specific and measurable.

"The campaign I led increased sign-ups by 35% in 2 weeks."
"Our new workflow cut processing time by 20 hours a month."

→ Leverage your network: Look for opportunities to share your wins with people beyond your immediate team to gain more visibility.

"I’d love to present our project results at the next all-hands so the wider team can apply what worked. Can you support me on that?"

→ Seek endorsements: Ask for feedback while the win is fresh as these endorsements provide powerful, third-party validation of your impact.

“Would you be opposed to writing a quick note on LinkedIn about my role in this project? It would mean a lot to me and I'd love to have your voice represented there."

By being intentional in sharing your wins, you expand your visibility, strengthen your personal brand, and make it far easier for others to advocate for you too.

This is exactly what we helped our client with. After a year of trying to secure her Director-level promotion on her own, she achieved this major promotion last week within just 2 months of working together.

You've got this!