The Self-Promoting Commander
For an introductory look at self-promotion, please see our article “Everyday Self-Promotion and Personality Types.”
Okay. Look at the designation given to this personality type: Commander! Such a forceful title almost demands that the bearer receive attention. Commanders (ENTJs) are naturals when it comes to self-promotion.
However, there are potential chinks in Commanders’ PR armor. Being highly ambitious can sometimes be an asset and other times a liability. Commanders will likely impress others most when they balance their effectiveness with their humanity.
What They Have Going for Them
Commanders are naturally bold and are rarely shy about telling their stories. They will not only self-promote but may even convince the leaders they are trying to impress to become their followers. Commanders are such naturals that they may not need to develop a formal self-promotion strategy. Still, if they create a plan, they will likely be unrelenting in seeing it through from beginning to end.
What Gets in Their Way
The introductory article for this series, “Everyday Self-Promotion and Personality Types,” mentions that self-promotion is more effective when it feels social and organic. Commanders may have trouble relaxing their ambition to the point where they can interact with others naturally, rather than trying to control a conversation about their accomplishments.
As Extraverts, Commanders likely have reasonable people skills, but there may be times when they roar when they should be purring. People with this personality type typically like to draw attention to themselves. Commanders would be wise to remember that an excessive display is often worse than no display at all.
Self-Promotion Tip
Shift your self-promotion agenda from accomplishing a goal to connecting with others. Tell your story as a glue for bonding rather than a trap to ensnare. At work, it may be helpful to begin thinking about building authentic relationships rather than gathering allies and supporters. Trade some of your edges for warmth, and self-promote by showing people that you aren’t just about your goals and advancement. If you do, you won’t lose your edge, but you may add to it a tone that is more accessible to other people.
Commanding True Connection
R-e-l-a-t-i-o-n-s-h-i-p-s. Commanders would do well to write that word on an index card and keep it where they can see it throughout the day. That word is their mantra for credible self-promotion. There’s nothing wrong with ambition, but when it comes to self-promotion, ambition usually needs to be blended somewhere in a story about supporting other people and upholding the values of an organization.
Some Commanders may need to discard the idea of soft skills being extraneous. Sometimes, when creating bonds, softer is stronger. When self-promotion highlights caring over striving for personal success, its effectiveness likely increases.
So, Commander, what’s your story? We would love for you to share your thoughts on what kind of self-promotion has worked for you. Or tell us what self-promotion strategies you’ve had to let go of because they didn’t work for you. The comment section below is there for you. Thanks for sharing.