A real coaching story about visibility, influence, and authentic self-permission
“My work should speak for itself.” It’s a noble sentiment — until you realise the workplace is a noisy place and your work is whispering from the back row.
A senior tech leader in BFSI led a function that influenced 1,200 people, yet their assessment score on Impact & Influence was lower than expected. The paradox? A fantastic track record, but under-recognised contributions.
In our coaching conversation, we examined a belief that had quietly shaped their career: visibility equals showing off. Understandable — none of us wants to be that person. But this belief had side effects: great work remained invisible.
“Perhaps the issue isn’t self‑promotion — it’s self‑permission.”
We traced the origin: a genuine preference for humility, a hope that organisations would notice quality on their own. Admirable — and occasionally true — but not a strategy.
We explored reframes: visibility as service; showcasing as context-setting; making your team’s work legible so others can partner with it. The leader noticed how often they downplayed outcomes when presenting to stakeholders.
“Showcasing is not bragging; it’s making your work legible to the system.”
We experimented with a different approach: narrate the problem, the path, and the payoff. Make the value explicit. Share credit generously, anchor outcomes to business impact, and invite collaboration.
The result? Recognition improved — but more importantly, influence deepened. Stakeholders finally saw the full picture and could align faster. Visibility wasn’t vanity; it was clarity.
Coach’s Reflection
Humility and visibility aren’t enemies. When you frame outcomes as shared value, you invite alignment — and that’s the heart of influence.
Call to Reflection
Where could you replace ‘showing off’ with ‘showcasing’ so others can actually see and support your impact?
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(c) The Yogi Compass – Coaching journeys that help leaders discover their True North.
Yatish Chandrasekhar | PCC (ICF) | CXO Coach | Mentor Coach | Leadership Facilitator
theyogicompass.com | yatish@theyogicompass.com
