How to Raise Your Visibility With the Board

Before becoming an Executive, I was an INVISIBLE contributor for the first 10 years of my career. (you probably are too) I was: Dreaming of recognition but → keeping my head down and hoping someone would notice Dreaming of promotions but → waiting for my turn instead of advocating for myself Dreaming of leadership roles but → staying quiet in meetings to avoid rocking the boat Dreaming of making an impact but → underselling my achievements to appear humble Turning point? I got snubbed for promotions not once, not twice but THREE times. Staying quiet was getting me a first-class seat at my DESK. After the third snub, I realized: I can't stay quiet and expect someone to notice me. I will always care more about my career than anyone else. I can't expect someone to articulate our value for me. I worked on: Actively sharing my accomplishments: "Our team's productivity increased 30% last quarter due to the new process I implemented." Clearly communicating my career goals: "I expressed my interest in leading the upcoming project to my manager, highlighting my relevant skills." Volunteering for high-visibility projects: "I took charge of presenting our department's quarterly results to the executive team." Quantifying and presenting my contributions: "I created a dashboard showing how my initiatives saved the company $500K annually." I eventually became an executive once I put these into practice. You don't need to change jobs every time you hit a roadblock. Or throw money at the problem with another degree or certificate. Learning to articulate your value can make all the difference. To master value articulation: Keep a detailed record of your achievements Align your work with company objectives and highlight this connection Practice describing your impact in concise, compelling ways Seek opportunities to present your work to leadership Regularly update your manager on your progress and aspirations Remember: "Your work speaks for itself, but only if you give it a voice." #aLITTLEadvice

Aspiring board directors: Being qualified is table stakes. Being VISIBLE is what gets you the call. That’s the uncomfortable truth. I hear the same frustration constantly from accomplished executives who can't break through to the boardroom: “I'm qualified for board seats. Why aren't they calling me?" “The same people get the calls... over and over…even when there are plenty of qualified leaders out here.” They’re not completely wrong. But here’s what I always ask: Are you visible? Or just qualified? Now, visibility is an additional qualification. The calls go to the names people remember. The ones with a clear brand. While you're polishing your resume, successful board candidates are: ✅ Speaking on industry panels ✅ Publishing insights that demonstrate strategic thinking ✅ Building relationships with sitting directors ✅ Positioning themselves as subject matter experts ✅ Making their unique perspective known Your impressive background isn't enough if decision-makers don't think of you when opportunities arise. It’s not always fair. But it is predictable. You can’t control every decision made in -or about- a boardroom, but you can control how and where you show up. Control the controllable. Be memorable. Hell, be unforgettable.

Most high-achievers think hard work will boost their career. Deliver the numbers. Stay late. Be the one people can always depend on. And yes, hard work creates competence. But competence alone doesn’t fast track careers. The biggest stalls happen because your story isn’t being seen in the right places, at the right time. That’s the Visibility Gap. And nothing is more frustrating than doing everything right, but still feeling invisible in the moments that matter most. I’ve seen countless executives hit the ceiling because no one in the rooms that mattered knew how to talk about their impact. Strategic visibility is the bridge. It goes beyond being seen, into being seen in the right rooms, by the right people, for the right reasons. Here’s how to close your own gap starting today: 1️⃣ Reframe from tasks to outcomes. → “I led the project” vs. “I reduced churn by 3% and freed budget for Product X leading to $1M in revenue.” 2️⃣ Shape the narrative before the meeting. The story that lands first often becomes the story that sticks. 3️⃣ Ask questions that elevate, not just execute. → “What’s our timeline?” keeps you tactical. → “What’s the trade-off if we choose this path?” positions you as strategic. 4️⃣ Let others echo your story. Make it easy for advocates: give them a clear, quotable line about your contribution. 5️⃣ Pick your rooms wisely. Not every meeting is worth your airtime. Show up where decisions about direction, dollars, or talent are being made. Because at the end of the day, Hard work builds competence. Strategic visibility builds careers. 💭 Are you being seen for the work you do, or for the impact you create? ➕ Follow Loren Rosario - Maldonado, PCC Rosario-Maldonado, PCC for human-first leadership shifts. ♻️ Share this if you know someone whose skills are ready, but their story isn’t being seen.

Data alone won't earn you respect in the boardroom. How you deliver it will. And that starts with your voice. I’ve worked with HR leaders who know their numbers: ⤷ They’ve got the reports. ⤷ They’ve got the dashboards. ⤷ But the moment they speak up… their impact disappears. They trail off mid-sentence. They rush. They soften their tone. They second-guess their own expertise. Let's be real for a second: If you don’t believe what you’re saying, why should anyone else? Let’s talk about how to improve your presence: ▶️ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 Movement helps when you’re connecting. But if you’re delivering a key message, hold your ground. Your stillness draws people in. It says, “I 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 this.” ▶️ 𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 Avoid the "question mark voice.” It makes everything sound uncertain. Instead, finish with a confident drop in tone. It signals finality and leadership. ▶️ 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 Don’t fear silence. Use it. A short pause lets your audience absorb what you said. It also gives you time to breathe and think. ▶️ 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 Reading a script out loud isn't enough. Practice with real data. Your voice changes when you're nervous or excited. Rehearsing helps you find your rhythm before the spotlight’s on. ▶️ 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 This one’s uncomfortable, but effective. Watch how you sound. Notice your volume, pitch, and pace. Then adjust. That awareness is a turning point. Your data matters. But how you deliver it matters even more. Are you developing your vocal presence as intentionally as your metrics? 👇 Share this post with another HR pro who presents to execs regularly. ♻️ I appreciate 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 repost. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗥 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? Click the "𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿" link below my name for weekly tips to elevate your career! #Adamshr #Hrprofessionals #humanresources #HR #theinsider   #hrcommunity Adams HR Consulting Stephanie Adams, SPHR

Hard truth: Talent gets you in the room. Visibility gets you the promotion. Recently, two conversations drove this point home: 1️⃣ Conversation #1: A VP was venting about a strong team leader who kept getting passed over for promotions. When I asked why, she said: -"He’s a great people leader. But he’s not making himself strategically visible to senior leadership." His work was solid. His team loved him. But the decision-makers weren’t seeing it... and he wasn’t helping them see it. 2️⃣ Conversation #2: I asked a recently retired CEO – a woman with an extraordinary, trailblazing career – what advice she’d give to women wanting to follow in her footsteps. She didn’t hesitate: “Look for the gaps. Serve. Step up with your skills, ideas, and energy.” “Make connections everywhere – not just to network for yourself, but to bridge opportunities for others.” Both conversations revealed the same deeper truth: → Visibility isn’t about bragging. → Visibility is leadership. → Visibility is service. You are in charge of your promotion. Not your manager. Not HR. Not your mentor. You. If you want to grow your impact, here are 10 ways to start owning your visibility: ✔️ Speak up in meetings, even if your heart pounds. ✔️ Offer ideas and volunteer to lead small (& large) initiatives. ✔️ Regularly update key leaders on your progress and wins. ✔️ Build genuine relationships across departments. ✔️ Share credit generously and position your team’s wins. ✔️ Seek mentorship and peer sponsorships. ✔️ Connect your work to broader company goals – make it obvious how you add value. ✔️ Ask thoughtful questions that show strategic thinking. ✔️ Say yes to stretch assignments that scare you a little. ✔️ Advocate for others and build a reputation as a connector. You don’t have to be the loudest. You just have to be visible – to the right people, in the right ways, for the right reasons. And if you don't have a strategic visibility plan, let's talk. Your leadership deserves to be seen. Your next level depends on it. And yes, you’re ready. #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInLeadership #CareerGrowth #VisibilityMatters #TheBoldLifeDesign #AuthenticLeadership #PromotionStrategy #LeadershipJourney