[Photo/China Daily]

Whenever I speak to people about raising their profile at work, I am generally met with horrified looks. There's a perception that anything we do that remotely toots our own horn, or blows our own trumpets, is deemed as "bragging" or "boasting". However, consider this, if you do not learn to articulate who you are, your experience and aspirations, how will others around you be able to open up doors of opportunity for you?

I meet lots of women (and men) who are not comfortable raising their profiles through networking, social media, blogging and so on. They are also too busy to even give the process any thought or to dedicate any time to it.

But there are opportunities around us, it's just a case of seeing them. This may involve doing something you haven't done before - or saying yes when you would have normally said no.

It might involve a risk or taking yourself outside your comfort zone, the bottom line being: if you want to progress, it's time to raise your profile.

Here are a few scenarios that you may have overlooked as potential profile raising activities and my tips as to how to make them work for you.