The reason that self-promotion works and self-adulation doesn’t is because self-promotion is the art of spreading ideas, concepts, and a greater vision. Self-adulation is just the promotion of accomplishments, deeds that have already been done.

When you promote ideas, you give people something to cheer for. You give people a cause to support. People, in many ways, are selfish. They promote the things that make them feel good. Your accomplishments aren’t likely to make them feel good, but your ideas do.

via copyblogger.com

As I read through this recent article on CopyBlogger, it makes me think of Top Performers Turned Managers. These managers quickly learn that the “self-talk” they use to drive their own performance doesn’t inspire the same result with their employees.

So what does the manager do… they begin telling stories about their own personal success, and it comes across as self-adulation… which again… doesn’t inspire.

If you want to engage, motivate, and inspire… focus on the two things mentioned above… promote ideas and promote the things that make your people feel good!