How to Become More Visible at Work

September 2023

Early in my career, I too thought that if I worked hard enough and delivered results, my efforts would be recognized and opportunities would organically appear. I have since learned that it is really hard to be tapped on the shoulder or have someone advocate for you if the wider organization doesn't know you and can't speak to that hard work and those results. Take advantage if you are fortunate enough to be in a role with a lot of cross-functional interaction. Learn about what other functions are doing. Informational interviews will not only help you do a better job at your own responsibilities but will also help you learn about other parts of the business. If your function is very self-sufficient, then seek out opportunities to interact with the wider organization to meet and share your value with colleagues throughout the company.

Summary of the linked article by Nicole D Smith and Angela Cheng-Cimini, August 18, 2023 HBR Summary.   

It takes more than hard work to grow in your role and build credibility. The impact of your hard work also needs to be visible to others. Workplace visibility is vital to getting your name mentioned in the room where decisions are made, being included in career-shaping projects, and eventually, landing a promotion. If other people don’t know what you’ve accomplished, you’ll never achieve your full potential for advancement. Here’s how to become more visible at work:

• Make a move. Being a visible employee requires purpose and intention. It takes action. If you’re normally someone who doesn’t talk in meetings, start speaking up or follow up immediately afterwards with the meeting host. Remember, humility doesn’t equal silence.

• Deliver quality work. It may seem obvious, but be visible for the right reasons. Do good work. When people can count on quality work from you, you’ll earn the reputation as a reliable, trustworthy, and valued, needed member of the team — all which leads to more visibility.

• Know what’s top of mind for key stakeholders. Be able to help and add value to the work of powerful decision-makers in your organization. When you demonstrate that you have a skillset that can be a valuable resource to them and their work, they’ll be more likely to pay attention to your work.

• Love to learn. Look for, ask about, and volunteer for learning opportunities that will expand your skills. All the better if those opportunities benefit key stakeholders. Does your company offer cross-departmental job rotations? Does your manager need an extra hand for a time-sensitive project? Can you volunteer to represent your team in cross-functional meetings? Seek learning opportunities that have urgent and promotable tasks.