Strategy for Professional Women
Is there “buzz” about you in your company or industry? Do people frequently come to you asking for your expertise or input? Is your value to your employer or client obvious?
As a professional woman, building a positive reputation for yourself within your company or industry can generate more opportunities, bigger promotions, better projects and more money!
One of the biggest mistakes many women leaders make is avoiding the spotlight. Time after time, our women clients tell us stories of being “lost in the shuffle” when it comes time for promotions and opportunities. Most of the time, it’s not because they lack the skills or the ambition to rise up in the ranks, but because they’re not visible within their organizations.
Our client Carla was a brilliant EVP for a global financial services firm. She led a team of hundreds and her division was outperforming others within the company. But she came to us with a concern—she felt she wouldn’t rise up the ranks to the management team because no one really knew her successes.
After speaking with Carla’s colleagues—we confirmed her suspicions. Sure, they all knew her division performed well, but that’s about it. No one knew about her personal leadership qualities that had led her team to success. No one really knew what Carla had to say outside of her formulaic updates at meetings.
It turns out Carla felt she was too busy to step up to speak at company conferences and events. She shunned the public relations department when they came to her looking for expertise for industry journals or other publications. The bottom line: Carla wasn’t putting a priority on visibility. In a dog-eat-dog world, being visible is essential to standing out from the pack.
Here are four ways to help ensure your value to the company is recognized:
