The Art of the Brag Email: A Professional Guide to Showcasing Wins

This is the time of year where we are almost wrapped up for the holiday season. On the verge of a deep, therapeutic sigh with some well deserved PTO on the calendar. The projects wrap. The year-end reporting begins. The calendar fills with reviews and planning. And suddenly, you’re thinking to yourself “I was busy all year but what impact was actually made?”

A few days ago, someone in the Career Civility community sent me a message asking how to write a brag email highlighting the work her team pulled off this quarter but she didn’t want to sound self-centered or spark an eye roll from everyone who’s still grinding it out. That hesitation is real, especially for those of us who’ve been conditioned to keep our heads down, work hard, and hope someone notices.

But notice rarely happens on its own. What gets recognized is what gets communicated. And there is an art to communicating your accomplishments in a way that feels thoughtful, grounded, and genuinely appreciative of the people who made the work possible.

When she asked how to strike that balance, I walked her through the same guidance I give clients when they’re preparing for performance reviews, advocating for raises, or trying to build credibility with leadership. The key is to treat a brag email less like a spotlight and more like a snapshot: a clear, honest accounting of what happened, how you partnered with others, and why the work mattered to the business.

Here’s how to write a brag email without sounding too self-promotional: 

1.Start with appreciation. 

Not the generic “thanks team!” but a real acknowledgment of the people who played a role. When you name contributions, big or small, you reinforce the idea that success is shared and you avoid the tone that makes bragging feel uncomfortable in the first place. Always give credit where credit is deserved

2. Communication the original goal of the work

Because we are always so busy, most people forget what the project was even supposed to accomplish because new priorities pop up constantly. When you remind people of the “why,” you create context for the “what.” It helps leaders understand the meaning behind the numbers instead of seeing them as another bullet on a weekly update.

3. Clearly communicate the results 

Not in a showboating way, but in a factual, measured way. “Here’s what we set out to do. Here’s what we achieved. Here’s how it impacted the business.” When you stick to facts over fluff, the email feels informative rather than boastful.

In case you missed it, earlier this month I also shared how to communicate gratitude professionally (see blog post here), but the end of the year is also a fantastic time to showcase the success you and your team had throughout the year. Use December as a time to write your very own brag email to send to those you deem fit. It’s not self-promotion for self-promotion’s sake.. It’s documenting your value, clarifying your impact, and showing your manager and peers how you move work forward.

And because I know writing these emails can feel awkward the first time, I created a simple template to work off of. Feel free to adjust the tone, add more detail, or keep it brief. It’s yours to make your own!

Copy-and-Paste Brag Email Template

Subject: Quick Win + Team Appreciation

Hi [Name],

As we close out the year, this email serves as a celebratory update on a project we recently wrapped. 

A big thank-you to [Names/Teams] for their partnership and contributions. Their support on [specific contribution] was essential to getting this across the finish line.

When we started this project, our original goal was to [insert original goal: improve efficiency, streamline the workflow, reduce turnaround time, enhance customer experience, etc.]. We set out to [insert any specific objective or target if applicable].

I’m excited to share that we were able to:
• [Result #1]
• [Result #2]
• [Result #3]

These results have contributed to [insert business impact: improved customer satisfaction scores, increased productivity, reduced errors, stronger cross-functional alignment, cost savings, etc.].

Optional line if client facing: [we even had feedback from our clients/customers saying “insert testimonial or praise here”]

I’m proud of the collaboration that went into this and grateful for the continued support as we move into the new year.

All my best,
[Your Name]

Writing a brag email isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about making sure your work and the work of those around you is visible, understood, and tied to the goals the business cares about. When you do this well, you reinforce trust, strengthen relationships, and position yourself as someone who leads with clarity and confidence.

And if you ever need help crafting language, reviewing a draft, or figuring out how to position your accomplishments, you know where to find me.