When first entering the workforce, some common advice you’ll hear is, “Work twice as hard as everyone else.” Many of us have been told that to excel in any role, we need to get things done efficiently and put our best foot forward. In most cases, this is true — from the onset of your career, establishing yourself as a productive and dependable person will help you build a strong personal brand and develop trust with your team.
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How to Become More Visible at Work
To excel in any role, the impact of your hard work needs to be seen.
August 18, 2023
HBR Staff; Leonard Mc Lane/oxygen/Getty Images
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.