Rebecca Mackenzie is the Founder of The Confident Communication Coach.
The best work doesn’t always speak for itself. I learned that the hard way in my first job out of university. I had been working hard, exceeding my key performance indicators (KPIs), but I was passed up for a promotion. That’s when my manager said something I’ve never forgotten: “It’s not enough to do great work; you have to be seen doing great work.”
That single line became the lesson behind some of my biggest career moments: reaching director of marketing at one of the world’s largest tech companies, launching groundbreaking AI technology live on stage and, later, founding a successful coaching business with clients from around the world.
None of these career milestones happened by chance. They were the result of one principle at the center of my strategy: Always be visible.
The Subtle Art Of Being Visible
Now, before you roll your eyes at the phrase “be visible,” I want to clarify one thing: Visibility isn’t about self-promotion. It’s about contribution.
Being visible means showing up even when it feels uncomfortable. For some, that’s speaking up in meetings or asking a thoughtful question during an all-hands call. For others, it’s raising their hand to lead a presentation, volunteering for a panel, starting a podcast or sharing insights on LinkedIn.
The subtle art of visibility isn’t about telling people what you’re doing; it’s about sharing what you’re learning. When you use your voice to share knowledge, experience and perspective, you build trust before you even enter the room; inspire, mentor and teach those around you and give others the confidence to use their own voice.
Being visible isn’t about taking the spotlight. It’s about sharing ideas that turn into lightbulb moments for others.
The Compounding Effect Of Visibility
Research shared by Stanford University discusses an experiment measuring the productivity of employees working the same role in-office versus remotely. While the research highlights the productivity gains of working from home, the employees who worked from home were less likely to be promoted than those who were in the office. Career advancement is not as simple as exceeding the expectations of your performance. The combination of performance, coupled with employee visibility, can be an advantage to career advancement.
Not every employee can be physically present with the leaders who determine a promotion, but there are many different tactics to increase your visibility.
When I first began sharing insights online, I thought of it as a simple personal-branding exercise. But what followed surprised me. Clients started reaching out. Mentors appeared. Invitations to teach, collaborate and speak came from people outside my network, many of whom had never once interacted with my content.
Visibility compounds like interest. First, people associate you with a skill. That credibility earns access to new rooms. Once inside, contribution builds influence, which attracts even more opportunity. It’s not magic; it’s mechanics.
That’s the invisible impact of being visible: You never know who’s watching, listening or remembering you for later.
An Intentional Framework For Strategic Visibility
If you want to increase your visibility to expand your impact and opportunities, focus on these four areas:
1. Clarity: Define what you want to be known for.
Tip: Evaluate what skills or traits make you unique and combine that with what lights you up inside. Listen to your heart as much as your head.
2. Consistency: Show up regularly, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Tip: Start small. If sharing your perspective in a meeting feels daunting, commit to asking just one question. If you’re growing your personal brand, post on LinkedIn once a week or speak at a conference once per quarter.
3. Contribution: Provide value, whether as a subject-matter expert or an encouraging mentor.
Tip: What’s obvious to you may be groundbreaking to someone else. Don’t filter yourself because you assume everyone already knows what you know.
4. Connection: Engage meaningfully. Visibility isn’t just about publishing; it’s about participating.
Tip: Attend networking events and company functions, or simply invite someone for coffee. Listen, exchange ideas and seek feedback. Every genuine connection sharpens your perspective.
Closing Thought
You won’t see every ripple your visibility creates, but you’ll feel it—in the unexpected messages, the new introductions and the moments when an opportunity seems to appear “out of nowhere.” Ask yourself, “What am I doing today that I could be sharing with others?” and take your first step into being visible.
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