Tips for Balancing Hard Work and Professional Visibility

I used to think that hard work was enough. That if I focused all my time and effort on becoming “smarter”, gaining new skills, or knowing everything about my domain… Acknowledgement and rewards would come to me. That wasn’t enough. I love frameworks, so I started leaning on Joseph Garfinkle's PVI (perception-visibility-influence) model to excel. After 8 years of using PVI myself to get 5 promotions and now using it in my work with clients, I’ve simplified it to two simple things you need to get great at if you want success in your career: 1) Building healthy networks and relationships (perception, visibility, & influence) 2) Self-advocacy (influence) Yes, developing expertise and actually doing good work IS important… But it’s also important to spend time developing relationships with people that are in a position to advocate for you and…you have to brag about yourself. (even if it feels weird or awkward to do 😖 ) ^ These are the things that make you stand out. So it’s something I help my clients to do every day. They get on the right people’s radar. They share the amazing work they’re doing. And in the process, they gain a reputation of being “leadership material”. So the next time you're about to put in a 12 hour day, ask yourself: → Am I also spending time networking & advocating for myself? If not, put that on your list this week.

"Hard work does speak for itself, but it often whispers." In the realm of professional growth, we often hear that hard work speaks for itself. But what if it whispers? In our lightning-fast worlds, the voice of your hard work can sometimes fade into the background, overshadowed by louder, more "now" demands of our daily routines. But there’s a powerful truth in the quiet persistence of your efforts. Hard work *absolutely* lays the foundation for success, but its voice is benefited by a stage to resonate. Here are a few ways to build that stage: 📝 Document Your Success: In the #digital age, your journey isn't just witnessed in real-time; it's recorded for posterity. Take the time to document your achievements, projects, learning and milestones. This isn’t just about keeping a record; it’s about crafting your narrative in the professional world. Whether it's a successful project, a challenging task you overcame, or new skills you've acquired, make it visible. Many orgs have internal tools to help with this. Learn about yours, and use them frequently. Platforms like this one are also great for this, bringing your network along to see and celebrate your growth. 🌱 Nurture Relationships and Build Advocates: Success is NEVER a solo act. The relationships you cultivate can become amplifiers of your hard work. Invest in your network [internal & external] by offering support, sharing knowledge, and celebrating others' achievements. You not only build a community of like-minded professionals, but also foster relationships with "co-advocates" - sharpening and elevating each other's perspectives. 🔍 Strategic Visibility: Being visible isn’t about being the loudest in the room; it’s about being present in the conversations that matter. Engage with your industry- share thought leadership, participate in relevant discussions, be a learn-it-all, AND share insights that reflect that learning and dedication. [#LearnTeachLearn] This strategic visibility is another way to ensure that your hard work doesn’t just whisper; it resonates. 🔄 Embrace the Power of Reflection: Take time to reflect on your journey, the obstacles you've overcome, and the milestones you've achieved. In business, AND in life. This reflection isn’t an exercise in self-congratulation; it’s about being clear on the value of your life experience, your work and how they've shaped your perspective and path. These understandings fuel resilience, motivation, and a clearer vision for the future. This is part of your narrative, you should know it and own it. 🏗️ Again, hard work is the foundation, but there are strategies we employ to amplify its voice that really help shape our narrative. Document, nurture , engage strategically, and reflect. What am I missing here? #HardWork #ProfessionalGrowth #Networking #CareerDevelopment #GrowthMindset

The one critical piece of career advice I wish I’d known 10 years ago: → Work in silence on your abilities but also build your visibility.  At 21, I used to believe: If I keep my head down, and work 5X harder, everything will fall into place. Yes, hard work is important but it’s not enough to get you the pay or title you deserve. There are lot of people out their exceptional expertise and ability but they are not where they should want to be because they lack visibility. Okay, how do I build visibility while I work on my skills? 1/ Document your journey: +positive feedback +milestones you achieve +the contributions you make +actions you take to bring growth 2/ Network and build relationships: +connect with hiring managers, colleagues +people from other departments across your org +ask about their dog, kids, their menthol health 3/ Become the go-to person: +if you work as a developer +consistently learn and share with others +the more you do this, the more you’ll build yourself +as an expert on the matter, and that’s what we need. It goes for everything, whether you’re job searching or looking to get promoted. The playing field is leveled, it’s easier to build skills now more than ever. The important factor is how you communicate those skills. So, the next time someone asks you: -why should we hire you? -or why do you deserve the raise? You can tell them exactly why.  – P.S: Building relationships is how I got a 6-figure job offer I didn’t even apply for. Will tell you the story in the next post. 

They told me to work hard. They didn’t tell me this. Very early in my career, I kept my head down. - Hit every deadline. - Took on extra projects. - Never complained. Never bragged. I assumed results would speak for themselves. They didn’t. I watched others — sometimes with less impact — get tapped for promotions, stretch roles, recognition. It stung. I felt invisible. But it taught me something I wish I’d learned sooner: Doing great work is the baseline. Visibility amplifies it. Here’s what I’ve learned: • Speak up in meetings. Not to show off, but to contribute. • Share wins, yours and the team’s. Brag with purpose. • Build relationships across departments. Visibility isn’t just vertical, it’s lateral. • Ask for feedback. Not just to improve, but to stay top of mind. You can’t influence what people don’t know you’re doing. 👋 What’s one small way you can raise your hand this week? #realtalk #leadership

Hard work isn't enough to be successful. It's never been that way. And it sucks. But the fact that it's not fair or that it sucks doesn't change the fact that it is what it is. There is so much life-politicking that goes into who gets what opportunities and who rises to the top. It's hard to see over-qualified people be passed up time and time again because someone else, with less qualifications or time in the game, surpasses them. This doesn't take away from the fact that hard work is still important. But that's not enough. It's one thing to know how to shoot a basketball. It's a whole other game to have an agent who knows how to get you signed onto a team that will value the shot you've worked your whole life to perfect. This is who you can be your own 'agent': ✅ Network. Network. Network. If you don't like small talk or you don't like mingling with people, you're going to have to find ways to deal with it in small doses. I'd always heard that 80% of opportunities are given through networking and it never ceases to amaze me how true this really is. I have an old podcast episode about networking. I'll share the link to it in the comments. ✅ Figure out who the power players are. These are the people of influence. These are the people who can make introductions on your behalf or help you understand the lay of the land. It's hard to break the glass ceiling if you don't even know where it is. ✅ Get good at talking about yourself. This isn't to say you need to be arrogant. But while you're out and about getting to know people, they're going to want to get to know you, too. You can't be shy and you need to know what you want. When someone asks you 'how can I help?' you need to have a strong answer. There is a huge difference between 'I'm looking for new clients' and 'I'm looking to work with mid and senior-level female leaders in the tech space who need help balancing full-time work and having a social life'. Make it easy for people to help you. Make it easy for success to 'find' you. I could go on and on for days. Part of the 'hard work' that you do can't just be 'the work'. It needs to involve the human, schmoozing aspect of what it takes to do well in business, and ultimately, life. Don't get so lost in getting credentials and completing tasks that you forget to build relationships. Don't hate on those who work less and have more. Learn from their playbook so you can beat them at their own game. #sales #business #growth

🚀 Cracking the Promotion Code: It's More Than Just Hard Work 🚀 We've all heard the mantra: "Work hard, and promotions will follow." But the reality isn't always that straightforward. If your hard work goes unnoticed, getting that promotion can feel like an uphill battle. So, is it as simple as "Promotion = Working hard + Visibility"? Not quite. Working hard on the wrong things can lead you astray. Pouring your energy into low-priority work won't put you at the front of the promotion line. Sometimes, we're proud of our dedication, only to find out it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Someone else, tackling the crucial issues, takes the spotlight. So, here's the updated formula: 🚀 Promotions = Working Hard + Visibility + Working on the Right Thing 🚀 But how do you know what the "right thing" is? 1. Understand Your Team's Scope: Dive deep into your team's scope of work. How does it align with the bigger goals of your organization? Is what you're doing a high-priority item in the grand scheme? 2. Seek Guidance: Don't hesitate to ask your skip manager, who often has a broader perspective on organizational priorities. Inquire about the most significant challenges the company is tackling and make sure your efforts align with those objectives. By following this formula and understanding the bigger picture, you'll not only work hard but work smart, increasing your chances of achieving that well-deserved promotion. 🌟 #CareerAdvice #Promotions #WorkSmart