Gone are the days where a person’s work would speak for itself and that would be sufficient for them getting the recognition that they deserve. These days if you’re not self-promoting and raising your visibility and profile, you can easily go unnoticed and get passed over for promotion.
This can be challenging for introverted leaders because for many this does not come naturally. All that expending of energy that is required to be in the spotlight can be draining and uncomfortable. It doesn’t help that we have morphed into a world where the focus is very much on the self.
You only have to scroll through social media to see the constant flow of selfies and people talking about their successes and achievements. For us introverts, this constant putting yourself in the spotlight can be exhausting. For extroverted colleagues who are energised by being around people, it seems to come easier to them. Unless they don’t like self-promotion or lack the confidence to do so.
Whilst it is good that technology affords us such easy access for self-expression, has the pendulum swung too far the other way? But if you don’t play the game, what happens? I often have clients tell me that they are told that they need to be more ‘out there’. But what does ‘out there’ look like. For many of them when they have asked this question, they have not received a satisfactory response.
However, you can self-promote and be visible without constantly being in the limelight, drained from all that external activity that is overly stimulating. It’s all about finding ways to connect, build rapport, and develop relationships so people know, like and trust you.
You can breathe a sigh of relief because you don’t have to put on a loud or gregarious persona to appear relatable. Not only can doing so come across as inauthentic (if that’s not your natural style), but it can also be draining and stressful.
Who do you need to be visible to and why?
Think about who you need to be visible to and why. Is it the case that you want to increase employee engagement or have greater influence with your employees? Or do you want to increase your chances of securing your next promotion? Or is it that you want to influence the Board about an idea that you have put forward?
Rather than feeling overwhelmed by a blanket ‘you’ve got to be more out there’, getting clear about who you want to be visible to (and why) will help you identify what it is that you can do, and help reduce the overwhelm.
If leaders are visible and approachable, employees are more likely to be engaged and feel connected to the organisation that they work for. When they are engaged, they are more motivated, more productive, and they are happier.
If you want to be more visible to employees and team members, it’s not just about holding large open meetings that everyone attends. It is also about connecting with people on a personal level. You may not be able to connect with everyone personally, but you can be intentional about connecting with those you see regularly. As well as making a point of getting to know individuals you don’t ordinarily come into contact with day to day.
If you want to have greater influence as a leader or with the Board, go for promotion, or change career, being visible can help you position yourself to achieve this. In the noisy, attention seeking environments we see so often these days, it can be hard to be seen and stand out, and that is where being visible through self-promotion comes in.
But rather than thinking that you have to brag or boast, showcase your ability and achievements so that others see the value you bring. Suggestions include showcasing your thought leadership and demonstrating your knowledge and expertise through industry publications, your organisation’s intranet, and newsletters, speaking at events and conferences, or sharing your thoughts on LinkedIn.
Connecting with those you want to be visible to, building a rapport, and developing and nurturing those relationships can make it easier to talk about the value you add and the difference that you make.
Being visible and raising your profile doesn’t have to be draining and exhausting and you don’t have to do something just because everyone else is doing it. You can be quietly visible in your own authentic way. It’s about finding ways to do it that work for you.
A good way to raise your visibility and profile is by being a guest on podcasts. If you have an interesting story to share, or want to showcase your thought leadership, apply to be a guest on my Quietly Visible Podcast here and someone will get back to you.
Have the days of someone’s work speaking for itself lost out to the attention seeking, selfie culture we seem to have adopted? Or is selfie culture a natural progression of how to communicate and express ourselves and if so, is it a good thing?