Become Visible to Your Boss Without Offending Them: 6 Strategic Tactics for Women Leaders
In the cutthroat world of corporate advancement, visibility isn’t just a perk—it’s a necessity. A study by the Pew Research Center found that 52% of women believe they need to prove themselves more than their male counterparts to be seen as competent leaders.
For women in leadership, the struggle to be seen and appreciated by higher-ups is real. Many women fear that self-promotion could be misinterpreted as arrogance or overstepping. This blog provides a tough-love approach on how to strategically increase your visibility without stepping on toes.
Key Strategies for Becoming Visible
Thousands of Iron Ladies have smartly tackled this challenge using the strategies below.
1. Monthly Check-Ins for Career Guidance:
Once a month, schedule a meeting with your boss to discuss your career aspirations and seek their guidance.
Example: “Boss, I’d appreciate your advice on how to advance my career within this organisation. Your insights will be value addition in my growth in this role.”
2. Team Guidance Requests:
Ask your boss to provide guidance to your entire team, subtly positioning yourself as the facilitator of this improvement.
Example: “Boss, could you spare some time to guide my team on best practices? Your experience could greatly benefit our performance.”
3. Casual Engagements:
Build a rapport with your boss through casual interactions, like offering to grab coffee together.
Example: “Boss, I’m heading out for coffee, would you like to join? I’d love to discuss some ideas I have for our projects.”
4. Showcase Responsibilities and Results:
Regularly update your boss on your responsibilities and the outcomes of your work through reports and presentations.
Example: “Here’s a summary of the recent project I led, highlighting the results we achieved and the impact on the company.”
5. Build Strong Internal Networks:
Connect with other influential people in the company to expand your support network.
Example: Attend cross-departmental meetings or company events to introduce yourself and share your accomplishments.
6. Involve Your Boss in Major Activities:
Engage your boss in significant and engaging projects, creating a sense of partnership and mutual respect.
Example: “Boss, I’m organising a major client event and would love your input on the agenda. Can we brainstorm together?”
Key Takeaways: Visibility is a critical factor in career advancement, especially for women in leadership roles. By strategically increasing your visibility through regular check-ins, casual engagements, showcasing your responsibilities, building internal networks, and involving your boss in major activities, you ensure that your contributions are recognised and valued.
Thousands of Iron Ladies have equipped themselves with the tactics and capabilities to navigate complex challenges like this through our Leadership Masterclass Program.
