Why High Performers Can't Remember Their Own Wins (And What It's Costing Them)
Your biggest career mistake isn't what you did wrong. It's what you forgot you did right.
I ask executives all the time about their team's wins during performance reviews, and they struggle to remember. But here's what gets me: when I flip the question and ask these same leaders to describe their own achievements from six months ago, they go just as blank.
I call this "achievement amnesia" because that's exactly what it feels like. And it's costing all of us more than we realize.
It's More Personal Than You Think
This isn't just a workplace thing. It's deeply personal. I love hearing what people call their systems for tracking achievements. Nickquolette Barrett, The "GET HIRED" Strategist, has her "Atta Girl File." Vivienne Artz, CEO of FTSE Women Leaders Review, does "Stock Takes." Brand expert Lisa Chicules keeps a "Kudos Record." I call mine a "Brag Book."
Different names, same need. We're all trying to hold onto our own value in a world that moves too fast to remember.
Here's What Leaders Need to Know
You're not a mind reader. When promotion time rolls around, you're working with whatever you can remember and whatever feels recent. Meanwhile, your quiet high performers are doing exceptional work without fanfare, staying completely invisible in your mental calculations.
The cost? Your best people start looking elsewhere. Not because they're undervalued, but because they feel unseen.
And here's the thing: as a leader, you need to actively help your team own their wins. Creating a culture where people can confidently articulate their value isn't just good for them—it's essential for your organization's ability to retain and develop talent.
The Real Solution
There's a 5-minute weekly system that changes how you see yourself and how others see you. It's not just about tracking wins, though that's part of it.
The real power happens when you start treating your wins like data instead of memories.
This shift in perspective is what we dive into in Bragging Rights. It changes everything about how you see your own value and how others recognize what you bring.
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Ready to build your visibility system? Hire Lisa Bragg to help because strategic self-promotion is no longer optional.