a

Menu

EqualizHer - the levelling Up Academy

🎙️ Boosting Visibility at Work: A Guide for Women Who Are Ready to Be Seen

Jul 22, 2024 | Monday Mojjo, Personal Growth

Because doing great work is only half the equation. The other half? Making sure it’s recognised.


You’ve done the work. You’ve delivered the results. You’ve quietly kept the wheels turning, solved the problems, and steadied the chaos.

But still — in the meetings, the credits, the promotions — your name doesn’t always come up first. Or at all.

This isn’t about ego. It’s about equity.
Because visibility in the workplace isn’t just about being seen — it’s about being recognised, respected, and positionedfor what’s next.

And for many women, especially in male-dominated spaces, visibility is complicated.
We’re told to speak up, but not too loudly.
To be assertive, but not abrasive.
To “show up,” but not overshadow.

But here’s the truth: visibility isn’t vanity. It’s strategy.
And you’re allowed — expected, even — to step forward and be seen.


Why Visibility Matters — Especially for Women

Visibility isn’t about self-promotion for the sake of it. It’s about:

  • Being in the room when key decisions are made
  • Being trusted as a voice of insight and influence
  • Being considered for opportunities because your work is known

When your contributions go unnoticed, so do your capabilities.
And when that becomes a pattern, it doesn’t just limit your advancement — it can undermine your confidence.

But visibility is not about becoming someone else. It’s about aligning who you already are with how you’re perceived.


The Cost of Staying Invisible

Too often, women are praised for being team players, dependable, detail-oriented — and yet, passed over for leadership roles.

Why? Because:

  • Quiet consistency is often expected, not celebrated
  • The credit for collaborative success is unevenly distributed
  • Many of us were taught that visibility is boastful — when in fact, it’s essential

Let’s be clear: you can’t rise if no one knows what you’re contributing.

And it’s not your manager’s job to advocate for you. It’s yours.


Practical Ways to Raise Your Visibility — Without Losing Yourself

So how do you speak up without feeling performative? How do you show leadership presence without mimicking the loudest voice in the room?

You start with strategy. And self-trust.


1. Own Your Voice in Meetings

You don’t have to dominate. You do have to contribute. Even a single, well-placed comment can shift perception.

Try:

“Building on what’s been said, I’d like to offer this angle…”
“I’ve seen something similar — here’s what worked in that case.”
“One question we might ask ourselves is…”

It’s not about volume. It’s about value. Speak from insight, not impulse.


2. Share Success — and Shape the Narrative

When a project goes well, don’t just say “we did it” and move on. Take a moment to articulate how your input mattered.

This could look like:

  • A summary email to your manager outlining results and lessons
  • A quick note of thanks to the team, highlighting your role and theirs
  • A reflection in a performance review that connects your work to strategic outcomes

It’s not bragging. It’s transparency.


3. Say Yes to Visibility-Enhancing Opportunities

These might include:

  • Presenting at a team or company-wide meeting
  • Leading a workstream or sub-project
  • Representing your team in cross-functional conversations

If public speaking makes you nervous, start small. But don’t opt out entirely. Visibility requires some stretch — and that stretch builds your confidence over time.


4. Build Internal Advocates

Sometimes, visibility grows through relationships, not just performance.

Build rapport with peers, sponsors, or senior colleagues who understand your strengths. These connections:

  • Recommend you for opportunities
  • Bring your name into rooms you’re not yet in
  • Reflect your value back to you when you forget it

Strategic relationships don’t have to be transactional. They can be built on genuine respect and alignment.


5. Rehearse Owning Your Work Out Loud

It’s one thing to know your value. It’s another to speak it clearly.

Practice introducing yourself and your work without minimising:

“I lead creative strategy for our brand campaigns.”
“I specialise in turning complex projects into clear deliverables.”
“I’ve helped the team increase X by Y over the past 6 months.”

Confidence grows in direct proportion to how often you reinforce your own story — to yourself and others.


Visibility Is a Muscle — Not a Mood

There will be days when you’d rather keep your head down. When imposter syndrome whispers. When you convince yourself that if you just keep doing good work, someone will notice.

But visibility isn’t passive. It’s cultivated. And the more you flex it — with integrity, not performance — the more natural it becomes.


Final Note: You Were Never Meant to Stay Small

If you’ve been under-recognised, it’s not because you’re not doing enough. It’s because you haven’t yet built the structures around your work that ensure it’s seen.

That changes now.

You’re not here to be humble to the point of invisibility.
You’re here to lead. To shape. To shine.

So take the mic. Take the moment. And take up the space you’ve already earned.

Because the work is brilliant — and the world needs to see it.

Beatrice Betley

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

WordPress Cookie Plugin by Real Cookie Banner