When you need to write a self-promotion that doesn't feel like bragging
The Move
Use the communal-brag formula: frame your win as a team outcome you drove, then let the AI sharpen the language.
The Script
"I led the initiative that [specific result]. The team was incredible — I designed the approach, coordinated the execution across [X departments], and the outcome was [quantified result]."
Your AI Prompt
Rewrite the following accomplishment using the communal-brag formula: lead with the team context, then make my specific leadership role unmistakable. Replace passive verbs (helped, supported, contributed) with agentic verbs (led, drove, designed, delivered) without inflating claims. Keep it under 50 words: [paste your draft]
Why This Works
Bowles & Babcock (2013) demonstrated that women who use "relational accounts" — framing negotiations as good for the team — eliminate the social penalty entirely. Heilman & Okimoto (2007) confirmed that women who signal communal intent alongside competence are rated as highly as men. The formula: team context + your specific agentic role + quantified result.
Research Behind This Move
Relational Accounts in Negotiation
Bowles & Babcock · Psychology of Women Quarterly · 2013
Why Are Women Penalized for Success at Male Gender-Typed Tasks?
Heilman & Okimoto · Journal of Applied Psychology · 2007