When it comes to leadership, perception is everything. It’s not enough to do good work; how others see you can have a major impact on your career. The way key stakeholders—whether it’s senior executives, board members, or clients—view you can determine who gets promoted, who’s trusted with critical projects, and who’s truly taken seriously at the table. For leaders who feel overlooked or misunderstood, it can feel like they are trapped in a cycle where their value goes unnoticed, and they miss out on opportunities they have worked hard for.

Who's in the Hot Seat:

Client: Mariah, VP of Partnerships for a global media company.

Coaching Challenge:

Mariah has consistently delivered results and built solid relationships within her team. However, despite her successes, she’s struggled to establish herself in the eyes of key decision-makers. Her stakeholders, who have a major say in promotions and high-profile projects, view her in a neutral light—not as a leader to bet on for the most strategic opportunities. Mariah has admitted to shying away from self-promotion and, in doing so, has become lost in the sea of other leaders within her organization.

Mariah’s challenge isn’t uncommon. Leaders like her often believe that their hard work should speak for itself, and while results matter, perception plays an equally crucial role in career growth. So, how do you change how others perceive you?

Here are three strategies Mariah used to shift her perception from neutral to indispensable:

1. Embrace Strategic Self-Promotion (Without Feeling 'Braggy')

Mariah's hesitance to self-promote was rooted in a fear of coming across as arrogant or boastful. She believed her results should speak for themselves. But in reality, senior leaders often don’t have a clear view of the day-to-day work their teams are doing. To stand out, Mariah needed to find ways to showcase her achievements without feeling uncomfortable about it.

We worked on reframing self-promotion as sharing valuable insights rather than boasting. Mariah started sending weekly updates to key stakeholders, highlighting her team's achievements, upcoming partnerships, and strategic wins. She wasn't just promoting herself—she was positioning herself as someone who consistently brings value to the organization.

2. Cultivate Authentic Visibility

Mariah realized she was spending most of her time focusing on her immediate team and the partners she worked with directly. But when it came to the broader organization, she wasn’t actively engaging with her stakeholders in a meaningful way. To change how others perceived her, she needed to become more visible—not just when presenting results, but by cultivating relationships outside her usual circles.

She began scheduling one-on-one check-ins with key stakeholders, not just to talk about current projects, but to understand their priorities, challenges, and how her team could support them. Mariah’s goal wasn’t to impress them but to build genuine connections and align her work with the organization's larger goals. By being present and showing interest in their perspectives, she positioned herself as a thoughtful, collaborative leader.

3. Leverage Key Wins to Build a Narrative

Mariah was great at executing, but she wasn’t telling a consistent story about her leadership. Each success felt disconnected, and stakeholders struggled to see a clear narrative around her strengths. We worked on helping Mariah craft a personal leadership narrative that connected her past successes to future possibilities. Instead of just focusing on isolated achievements, Mariah began framing her work as part of a larger vision for the company's future.

This involved weaving her key wins into a story about how she, as a leader, was uniquely positioned to take on high-level, strategic projects that could shape the company’s direction. By linking her past successes to the company's larger goals, Mariah began to paint a picture of herself as the leader who could deliver results not just now, but in the future.

Why This Matters

Changing others’ perceptions of you as a leader isn’t about being flashy or adopting a persona that doesn’t fit. It’s about being intentional in how you show up, how you communicate your value, and how you build relationships with those who have the power to shape your career. Mariah’s story is a testament to the power of shifting your mindset and leaning into your strengths to not just get noticed, but to be seen as the leader who delivers consistent, strategic value.

So, take a moment to ask yourself: How are you perceived by your key stakeholders? And more importantly, how can you begin to shift that perception to ensure you are seen as the leader you truly are?

If you are ready to change how others see you and elevate your leadership profile, reach out! Let’s work together to craft a strategy that puts you in the spotlight where you belong. Schedule a 30-minute consultation here.

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