The Importance of Being Visible at Work

Inspired by How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

This BLOG is an extract from my Career Book Club Podcast, where we explore real strategies for thriving in your career. Each week I share key lessons from some of my favourite career and personal development books, plus real-world stories and practical coaching tips so you can put the ideas into action.

I recognise some people prefer reading to listening, so I pull the highlights into my BLOG. I hope you enjoy reading — and I love a good recommendation, so if you’d like to share some of your favourite books, please get in touch.

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Introduction

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything right at work — putting your head down, working hard, being reliable — and yet somehow, others keep getting the recognition, the promotion, or the opportunities? If you’ve ever thought, ‘I’ll just let my work speak for itself,’ you’re not alone.

But here’s the hard truth: “your work can’t speak for itself if no one can hear it.” And this is exactly what Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith explore in their brilliant book “How Women Rise.” In this first episode of the Career Book Club, I dive into the habits that make us undervalue visibility — and how to start owning the spotlight, without feeling like you’re showing off.

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Habit 1: The Myth of Hard Work Alone

Let’s start with one of the most common traps: believing that hard work alone is enough to get you noticed.

Many of us were raised to think that if we put in the effort, deliver results, and stay humble, people will naturally see and reward our contribution. It’s a comforting idea — but in reality, it’s a myth.

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Hard work gets you in the door. Visibility moves you up the ladder.

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I remember early in my career thinking, ‘If I just do a great job, they’ll see.’ But they didn’t. Not because they didn’t value my work — but because they were busy focusing on their own. Everyone around you is doing their best. If you don’t make your achievements visible, they can easily get lost in the noise.

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Why We Hide Behind Our Work

For many of us, especially women, self-promotion feels uncomfortable. We worry about being perceived as pushy, arrogant, or self-serving. So we play small, hoping someone will notice our quiet excellence.

But the truth is, visibility isn’t vanity — it’s strategy. It’s not about bragging; it’s about making sure your contribution is seen and valued by the right people.

In “How Women Rise”, Sally tells the story of a high-performing executive who consistently delivered exceptional results but was passed over for promotion. When she finally asked her boss why, he said, ‘We didn’t realise how much you were doing. You never talk about it.’ That conversation changed everything for her.

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How to Shift From Invisible to Seen

So how do you start being more visible without feeling like you’re boasting?

🔹 “Share your wins — strategically.” Frame them in terms of impact: what problem you solved or how the team benefited.
🔹 “Speak up in meetings.” Don’t just contribute ideas — link them to outcomes or lessons learned.
🔹 “Accept praise gracefully.” Instead of deflecting, say, ‘Thank you — I’m proud of how that turned out.’
🔹 “Build relationships beyond your immediate team.” Influence happens through connection.

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Habit 2: The Reluctance to Claim Credit

Another pattern that holds so many of us back is the reluctance to claim credit. We deflect recognition, saying things like, ‘Oh, it was nothing,’ or ‘It was a team effort.’ While humility is admirable, constantly downplaying your contribution can make others believe you didn’t play a big role at all.

A client of mine once said, ‘I don’t want to sound like I’m taking all the credit.’ But the goal isn’t to take “all” the credit — it’s to take “your share” of it.

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When you minimise your accomplishments, you’re not being modest — you’re making your work invisible.

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How to Own Your Impact

Here are a few ways to start changing that habit:

🔹 “Replace deflection with appreciation.” When someone compliments your work, say, ‘Thank you — I worked hard on that.’
🔹 “Document your achievements.” Keep a ‘wins list’ so you can clearly articulate your value in reviews or career conversations.
🔹 “Speak about results, not effort.” Instead of ‘I worked really hard on that,’ try ‘That project helped us streamline the process by 20%.’

Owning your success doesn’t diminish anyone else’s — it amplifies your contribution to the bigger picture.

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And if you struggle to create impact with your words and hide behind minimising words such as perhaps, maybe, possibly etc - then I have a workbook that will help you speak with more impact. Download it here

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Habit 3: Waiting to Be Noticed

This one’s a big one: waiting to be noticed. It’s rooted in a deep belief that good work should automatically lead to opportunity.
But promotions and opportunities don’t always go to the most capable person — they go to the most visible one.

In “How Women Rise”, Sally shares stories of talented professionals who assumed their results would speak for themselves. But when promotions came around, their names weren’t even in the mix — not because they weren’t good enough, but because they hadn’t made their aspirations known.

I’ve seen this countless times with coaching clients. They’ll say, ‘I didn’t get the role I wanted,’ and when I ask whether their manager knew they wanted it, they admit they’d never said so out loud.

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How to Stop Waiting and Start Leading

🔹 “Make your goals known.” Tell your manager what you’re aiming for and why — so they can advocate for you when opportunities arise.
🔹 “Seek feedback proactively.” Don’t wait until review season — ask regularly, ‘What could I do more of or differently to prepare for my next step?’
🔹 “Show up for visibility moments.” Volunteer to present, lead a project, or share lessons learned. It signals readiness for more.

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Visibility is not arrogance — it’s leadership in motion.

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Wrapping Up

Visibility isn’t about self-promotion — it’s about self-advocacy. It’s how you help others see the value you bring, so they can trust you with bigger opportunities.

If you’ve ever thought, ‘My work should speak for itself,’ here’s the mindset shift I want you to hold onto:
Your work opens the door — but your visibility invites you in.

So this week, take one small step to make your contributions visible. Share an update. Speak up in a meeting. Accept recognition with confidence. Because you deserve to be seen — not for the noise you make, but for the impact you create.

If this BLOG resonated with you, please share it with a friend or colleague who might need the reminder. And join me for the next episode, where we’ll explore how to build stronger workplace relationships that help you rise with confidence and authenticity.