Your work won't speak for itself

Doing great work isn't enough. We also have to advocate for ourselves and our teams to ensure our contributions are seen, valued and celebrated.

Hard truth: your effort, commitment and quality work is rarely enough.

It's a lesson so many of us have to learn the hard way (because it shouldn't be true, even though it is), as members of what Meredith Fineman, author of Brag Better, calls the ‘Qualified Quiet.’¹

If you're not getting the recognition, visibility, acknowledgement or rewards from all your hard work, then chances are good, the people who need to know, don't.

And while I know that's a hard pill to swallow, it's also an opportunity for you to showcase the value you bring your organization, team, community or clients.

Don't wait for people to discover your value — be brave and tell them about it.

💫 Do it regularly.
💫 Do it proudly.
💫 And do it publicly.

It'll feel uncomfortable at first and you'll probably swirl in stories about it being swarmy and overly self-promotional.

But the alternative is that you keep toiling away, doing what is undoubtedly excellent work, for an audience of one.

And that's just a loss for everyone. Most of all, you.

Self-Advocacy at Work

Whether you're leading a team or running your own business, advocating for your work doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or uncomfortable.

Here are some practical, day-to-day ways to make it more natural:

• Document Your Achievements²: Keep a running list of wins throughout the year, big or small. This is so important! You’re busy and doing a lot — it’s easy to forget all the wins you’ve had along the way. Track them, and then share when the time is right.

• Use Results to Back Up Your Work: Using data and results not only strengthens your case but also makes your contributions more tangible and compelling. Back up your achievements with concrete evidence:

  • Quantify Your Success: Use metrics like increased sales, employee retention, engagement rates or revenue growth to highlight your impact

  • Share Client/Leader Feedback: Include positive testimonials, feedback or reviews to provide social proof of your value

  • Use Success Stories: Briefly outline specific projects, your role and the results to illustrate your contributions

• Find Everyday Opportunities to Showcase Your Work:

  • For business owners: Use social media, podcasts or newsletters to share recent successes, client outcomes, or new offerings. It’s a natural way to keep your work top of mind.

  • In team meetings: Share wins by starting with a quick “what’s going well” moment. It’s a subtle way to spotlight your contributions and encourage others to do the same.

  • Regularly offer up short progress updates with the people who matter — whether in a team meeting or with a quick email each week. It keeps your work visible without feeling self-promotional.

  • Present to other departments, sharing the scope and value of the work your team does. Use this as a chance to help other departments understand and see value in you (and your team’s) contributions.

• Raise your Hand for High-Visibility Projects³:

  • Entrepreneurs: Pitch yourself to speak at industry events or popdcasts, or contribute guest posts to popular blogs or newsletters in your niche.

  • Leaders: Take the lead on presentations or offer to mentor others in your organization. Both are great ways to show your value without directly saying, “Look at what I’ve done.”

Advocating for Your Team (or Business)

Advocating for yourself is important, but as a leader, entrepreneur, or small business owner, advocating for your team can be just as impactful.

As I shared here, when your team looks good, YOU look good.

Here’s how you can elevate the work of others:

1. Highlight Contributions in Group Settings: Whether it’s a team meeting or a client presentation, make a point to recognize specific people for their contributions —“Samantha’s research was key to the success of this project,” or “Our design team’s creativity and flexibility were pivotal in keeping our clients happy.” This not only boosts visibility for others but shows that you’re a team-focused leader.

2. Share Wins with Clients and Leadership: Don’t wait for clients or leadership to discover the impact you’re having. A quick note or mention during a meeting can ensure their efforts—or the value of your business—are recognized.

3. Create a Culture of Recognition: Whether you’re managing a team or a small business, encourage team members or colleagues to share their wins in meetings or collaborative spaces.

Advocating for your work—and the work of your team or business—requires a shift in mindset. It’s not about being boastful or self-serving; it’s about making sure the value you're creating is seen and acknowledged.

You’re already doing great work. You deserve to have people know about it.

And that starts with you telling them.

Ambition, Reimagined Survey

Over the course of our year long exploration into ambition, I want to better understand how we’re all thinking, feeling and experiencing ambition in our lives and work.

And so, I ask that you take a few minutes to complete this short, anonymous survey to help me offer better and more relevant insights as we proceed.

I’d be very grateful!

⭐ Here are some preliminary results when asked what the greatest challenges or barriers folks face when pursuing their ambitions.

Does this ring true for you? I’d love you to lend your voice to the discussion (you can stay anonymous).

» Take the Ambition, Reimagined survey here

Leader Links

A curated collection of links worth clicking.

— The ambition we know vs the ambition we need » The first post in our year-long exploration of ambition

— I’m a therapist who procrastinates — here’s how I get unstuck »“Don’t ask why. You can analyze your why, but then you’ll just be insightfully stuck. Instead ask, “What can I do?”

— Ann Patchett: The decision I made 30 years ago that I still regret » I feel you Ann, I feel you. (NYT gift link)

— Her Story series by

Denyse Whillier

of We are Mimosa. I’m loving this new(ish) series that Denyse is writing. The features showcase courageous and powerful women leaders who are living life on their terms.

— Holding hope (from Canada) that in just a couple of weeks, the tides will turn in the US and Kamala Harris will take the oath of office. In the meantime, here’s an election sanity mediation from Tara Brach to get you through.

Work with me

If you’re looking to grow as a leader, let’s chat.

Being a leader is sometimes lonely, oftentimes challenging work. Especially right now.

People look to you for answers on complex (and not-so-complex) problems all day long. Whether they be clients, staff, the Executive Leadership Team or your community-at-large, it can get overwhelming to be on call for everyone else.

I’m your confidante, your expert guide, your cheerleader, your accountability partner, and your safe place to share the ups and downs of your life and leadership.

I’ll be the person that helps you cool down before you respond to feedback or a hard conversation, and I’ll help you find the words to communicate with clarity and confidence. I’ll help you problem-solve, re-imagine and plan for what’s next.

And I’ll hold your feet to the fire when you find yourself over-thinking, procrastinating or stuck in the mud.

I’ve got space in my calendar for a couple of new clients starting in June. If you’d like to explore working together, I’d love to chat. There are two main ways to work with me:

1. Leadership Coaching — 3, 6 or 9 month engagements

2. On Demand Voxer Coaching — monthly as needed

Want to chat? Book a quick chat with me or hit reply and we’ll figure out if coaching is right for you.

1. Defined in her book as: » The Qualified Quiet: a group of highly competent individuals who are underestimated because they lack a strategy for self-promotion, thinking their work will speak for itself.

2. Worth noting here that your ‘achievements’ don’t have to be all data-driven or goal oriented. They can be relational as well, for example, you might have a win at resolving some interpersonal conflict happening between your team.

3. This is not a call to sign up for a bunch of volunteer roles and tax your capacity all in an effort to be seen by the ‘powers that be.’ Be mindful of what you say yes to, and ensure it gets you in front of the people — and in a way — that’s helpful and sustainable.