In my experience working with even the most impressive executives, most of us have perceived weaknesses, things we try to hide. It could be something physical, like the sound of your voice, your stature, or your accent. Or it could be non-physical, like your personality (“too extroverted” or “too quiet”), or maybe the story of your recent career transition.
Is there something you’re trying to hide? What if you learned how to reframe your weakness?
For me, it’s my extreme extrovert tendencies. Sometimes I think duct-taping my mouth would be the best solution. While I encourage many of my clients to “speak up” in meetings, I focus on taking up less air-time.
Here’s the thing: No matter what your self-perceived weakness is, there’s a way to create a narrative around it that can turn it into an asset.
There are a million ways to tell the same story. Why not tell your story in a way that serves you?
For me, I talk about my extreme extroversion in terms of “my energy and enthusiasm.”
This week I’m sharing three ways you can control your professional narrative, to steer your career towards success.
3 Things to Talk About This Week
- How to reframe your perceived weakness as an asset
- How to introduce yourself with purpose
- How to narrate your career journey
1️⃣ How to reframe your weakness as an asset
A while ago, I met a mixed-race gentleman who shared with me how exhausted he was with people constantly asking, “Where are you from?”
Frustrated, he’d answer, “I’m Canadian.”
His grandparents were from four different continents, and that seemed to invite even more questions. Instead of letting that frustration fester, we worked on a new narrative.
Now, when people ask him where he’s from, he smiles and says, “My ancestry is a mix of A, B, C, and D. I also travel extensively for work and pleasure, so I bring a truly global perspective to my leadership style.”
Powerful, right?
He turned what felt like a nuisance into a compelling part of his story.
Then there’s the story of a CEO I coached. This CEO spoke at warp speed. People struggled to keep up, and they’d often ask for clarification. Instead of seeing this as a flaw, we reframed it.
Now, when this CEO introduces themselves, they say, “I think fast, and I speak fast—it’s how my brain works. But please let me know if I need to slow down.” Suddenly, their rapid speech is re-framed as a reflection of their intelligence and agility.
Do you see the pattern here? What you perceive as a weakness might actually be your secret weapon. It’s all about reframing.
So here’s my challenge for you: Think about something you’ve been trying to hide. Could it be turned into an asset? If you’re not sure, talk to someone you trust. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to see the potential in what we’ve been holding back.
2️⃣ How to introduce yourself with purpose
You may have heard me say this before: The most direct way to control your narrative is by introducing yourself with purpose. Self-introductions are the cornerstone of our personal brand. It’s YOUR chance to own your story and reinforce exactly how you want to be perceived. If there’s one thing you focus on to take control of your narrative, make it your self-introduction.
I developed a three-point self-introduction framework that was originally released as ep.86 and more recently re-released as ep.170. It’s since gone on to be published in Harvard Business Review, and was one of the top three most downloaded articles on hbr.org in 2023. That’s how powerful this topic is—it’s a game-changer!
Here’s my three-point self-introduction framework:
The first step is present—as in present tense. This is where you share your name and what you do. For example: “Hi, my name is Chris, and I’m the Chief Financial Officer at the bank.”
You can leave it at that–your name and title–or you can elaborate with your unique personal brand value “… people tell me I’m a strong people leader.”
The second step is past—as in past tense. This is where you establish credibility. You might talk about how long you’ve been in your role, highlight your credentials, or talk about an award.
Here’s where you take control of your narrative by highlighting things that reinforce the story you want to tell. Think about what points will best reinforce your credibility in this specific context.
The third and final step is future—as in future tense. This is where you inject some energy and enthusiasm. Share a statement about what you’re looking forward to. For example: “I’m really excited to get to know you better and work together on this project.” Or, if you’re in an interview: “I’m excited to learn more about this position because, based on what I’ve heard and read, I think I’m a great fit.”
The beauty of this framework is that it’s simple, yet endlessly adaptable. And here’s the magic: within each of these three steps, you can weave in the elements of your personal brand that you want to highlight.
3️⃣ How to narrate your career journey
How you tell the story of your career matters—a lot. And it’s not easy, is it?
Should you start from the beginning and tell the story chronologically? What points should you emphasize and what should you leave out? And then there’s the tricky transitions, like when you got laid off. How exactly do you share that?
Here’s the framework I teach my clients for narrating their career journey.
The three Ts: talent, timeline, and tomorrow:
1. Talent
- Start by establishing what you do, including your expertise and your talents.
2. Timeline
- What points do you want to emphasize from your career path that will help you achieve your goals? What did you learn along the way that makes you better at what you do today?
- When it comes to tricky transitions, remember, words matter. Were you laid off or packaged out? Are you taking a sabbatical or resetting your energy and direction? Choose terms that feel authentic but also convey professionalism and a growth mindset. How you label your transition has significance, and YOU get to determine that label!
- Turn your attention toward the future. What’s next for you?. Share something that you’re excited about.
3. Tomorrow
- Turn your attention toward the future. What’s next for you?. Share something that you’re excited about.
Are you feeling inspired about narrating your career journey? You can learn more in this week’s podcast ep.182 on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already!
Have a great week.
Talk soon,
Dr. Andrea Wojnicki
executive communication coach