“If you don’t promote yourself, no one else will.”   “Nice guys finish last.”

Narcissists seem to live by these maxims, and their aggressive, obnoxious natures often pay off at work. A recent study from the University of Bern in Switzerland found high correlations between narcissism and higher salaries, and between “Machiavellianism’’ (manipulation and superficial charm) and leadership positions.

There is a lesson here, and you don’t need to be pompous and self-aggrandizing to apply it. In order to advance within your company, you must find ways for people of higher authority to take notice of your skill set. Being coy only enables those who are more aggressive (and even unethical) to steal the opportunities you deserve.

Fortunately, most managers have become increasingly aware of the risks of advancing serial self-promoters. This gives you an opportunity to find creative ways to get managers to notice you as a candidate for promotion. Seize the day by applying these ten subtle, yet powerful methods of selling yourself without turning people off:

1. Master the art of storytelling “Bragologues”

Leadership expert Peggy Klaus pioneered the term “Bragologues,” which are conversational, story-like monologues about your team or a recent project, in which you convey tidbits about your accomplishments. You’re not the focal point of the story, but you have a key role. Imagine yourself out with a group at a restaurant for lunch, and you are sitting with company leaders with whom you occasionally work. This is an opportunity to engage them in a story about a recent project, which you will discuss in a gracious, graceful manner. In this story, you want to include five to ten “brag bits,” which incorporate these elements:

1. What you love about your work
2. What you do with what you love
3. Accomplishments that make you proud
4. Skills you have acquired in your career
5. Obstacles you have overcome in your career

When you try this, speak with passion while avoiding excessive use of the word “I.” Your energy will be infectious, and may get anyone listening to re-tell your story and your key role in it.

2. Be a solutions provider

Using this proactive strategy, you will promote yourself as something that every department needs—a solutions provider. Regardless of your position, this is an identity to assume in every setting where there is someone present who could help you in your career. At cross-functional meetings and in collaborative groups, identify the challenges that people in different departments have. Take notes, and then work with others in trying to find ways to address these challenges. In this collaborative process, you will brand yourself as someone with leadership and problem-solving capabilities.

3. Keeping a running list of your achievements

Opportunities are often missed because when there is a chance to speak about achievements, the memory isn’t readily available. To self-promote effectively, you need instant and detailed recall of your successes. Keep a running list, and at the end of each day, update that list with your most recent accomplishments. On a weekly basis, weave them together to convey a broader story, and re-read your list. This moves your running list from your computer to the short-term memory “cache” of your brain, where it will be available for you to use opportunistically.

As a quick aside, this list will also be useful for updating your LinkedIn profile with accomplishments. On LinkedIn, you will have visibility to your own leadership team, as well as others in your industry.

4. Be opportunistic

When your boss asks how you are doing, provide progress reports using the most recent items from your running list of achievements. Talk with energy and passion about the projects you are working on and how they are progressing.

Here’s another way to be opportunistic. When you attend meetings with your superiors, if one is a charismatic or cerebral leader, match his or her brand of dynamism so that others see you as someone who could competently step into a similar role. If your nature has been humble and reserved, this strategy will help you to push out the boundaries of your comfort zone.

5. Give recognition for a group accomplishment

Your group has just accomplished something remarkable, and with your role as a solutions provider, your contributions were noteworthy. You could wait for your manager to recognize your group, or you could be proactive. Ask your manager if you can give recognition to the individuals in the group who contributed to this accomplishment at an upcoming inter-departmental meeting. This shows the manager that you are trying to spotlight the achievements of his or her group, and affords you an opportunity to demonstrate gracious leadership.

If you are an earnest worker who genuinely deserves a promotion, these strategies may be just what you need to accelerate your career advancement curve. If you have applied any of these strategies (or others), we would love to hear your stories and suggestions on Facebook!