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Today, being “good” at your job isn’t the only requisite for getting ahead in your career. In this article I’ll try to list some of the best practices to be visible in your workplace.

If key people and stakeholders aren’t aware of you, you’ll likely miss out on opportunities to improve your skills and take on interesting assignments, despite your hard work and good performance. Corporate visibility is today’s most desired skill you need to master. It’s not only what you know that matters – it’s who you know, too.  Now you can get some extra tips from www.kokaibusinesscoach.com to be more visible at work.

Promoting Yourself

You can’t always rely on others, such as your boss, to increase your visibility for you. Instead, you need to figure out how to maximize your exposure so that you’ll be “in the running” for opportunities when they arise. This is especially important if you work remotely, because people might forget about you if they don’t often see your face. Not on a group call, but on a one-to-one.

Many people feel uncomfortable at the thought of promoting themselves, so they assume a more passive role in the workplace. Fortunately, there are many simple ways that you can become more visible, even if you are not naturally outgoing.

Speak up in Meetings

Do you feel comfortable sharing your ideas in meetings, or do you feel shy, because you’re worried about how others will react?

Meetings (even Zoom or Team conferences) give you a great opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and increase your visibility within your team or department. If you don’t speak up currently, work on developing your self-confidence, so that you feel more comfortable being the center of attention. If you feel like struggling with expressing your needs, you might need to work on your assertive communication. Also, learn how to be a more engaging speaker, so you make an impact that’s memorable for the right reasons, and push yourself to say more, even if you are an introvert. There are thousands of great examples of introvert speakers are also able to perform great in front of an audience.

To plan what you could say in a meeting, read the agenda beforehand and think about the questions you want to ask or the points you want to make. Victory loves preparation: this will give you the confidence to speak up.

Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Boss

It’s a good idea to talk to your boss periodically about your work, even if you have a formal performance evaluation process at your company. Use this time to discuss what is going well, to ask for suggestions on how you can add more value to the team, and to find out about opportunities to raise your profile. Most companies introduce development plans for the employees, and  good leaders are happy to help their team members to step forward.

Ask for High-Visibility Projects

Does your team do anything that needs it to work with people in other teams or departments? Or are there any assignments you could take on that have a great impact on your organization’s bottom line?

Don’t wait for your manager to assign these projects to you – ask to work on them when you find out about them. They’ll help you build relationships with people in other parts of the organization, and you might get more exposure to decision makers such as senior managers and executives.

Volunteer to Represent Your Team

If your team sends a representative to cross-departmental meetings, ask your boss if you can attend. You could also volunteer to speak  at project or committee meetings, or at company town hall meetings.

Tip:  If you’re new to public speaking, start by giving presentations to several colleagues or in small team meetings. As you develop your skills, and as your confidence grows, you can speak at bigger events.

Also consider joining a speaking group such as Toastmasters, so that you can practice your skills regularly.

Participate in Learning Opportunities

Company-wide training events, such as seminars or “lunch and learn” or executive visits with Q&A (Questions and Answers) sessions, provide great opportunities for you to become better known within your organization. When you attend them, make an effort to contribute to discussions, and partner with people you don’t already know in “break out” sessions, so that you can build your network.

Demonstrate Your Expertise

When you’re seen as an expert in your organization, you’ll develop a reputation as someone who others can come to for help. This can lead to interesting work projects, as well as speaking and training opportunities, all of which increase your visibility.

First, choose an area to build your expertise  in. For instance, you may have a talent for dealing with unhappy customers or solving extra complex customer claims.  Or, perhaps you’re great at managing your priorities. Choose an area that excites you and that you already have some knowledge of.

You can raise your profile further by sharing what you know. For example, you could write a regular blog for your company’s intranet or under your professional LinkedIn profile or produce articles that you distribute throughout your organization. You could also offer to train people or speak about your area of expertise at company events or can volunteer for presenting your area when visitors come, or creating an internal event. Just be sure to provide plenty of value for your audience!

Form a Mastermind Group

If your organization doesn’t offer many opportunities for you to connect with people in other departments, you could create a Mastermind Group  based on a common interest. For instance, you could set up a group for people who are at the same stage in their career as you, or you could meet with people who want to learn a specific transferable skill.

This will demonstrate your leadership ability and help you build even more new relationships.

Grow Your Network

Clearly, you won’t get to know others inside your organization if you spend your time hanging out with the same people at lunch every day. Although these colleagues may be advocates for you, your personal support  base should extend well beyond your immediate team!

To grow your network  further, be strategic. Write down your networking objectives and think about how best to reach the people you want to build relationships with.

Also, remember that you can network with others in your organization outside the confines of the working day. Find out where they socialize, and see if you can get involved too. Or, organize an informal after-hours meet up, and invite people from other departments.

Corporate charity events are also great for raising your profile while also contributing to a worthwhile cause. Do something for your organization’s chosen nonprofit, or ask your company to sponsor you to take part in a charity race or other fundraising event.It’s a good opportunity to show you care.

Find a Mentor

Mentors can offer invaluable advice on getting noticed, and they can serve as sponsors for you, within the company and further afield. Our article on Finding a Mentor  looks at how you can identify and approach people who may be able to mentor you.Some companies have their own mentor programs and make sure talents have their internal mentorship.

+Highlight Others’ Achievements

Finally, bear in mind that you don’t just have to focus on yourself to raise your visibility in your organization. Be humble  – highlight other people’s achievements, and always share the credit with those who have helped you along the way.

Key Points

In today’s highly competitive business environment, it takes more than hard work to get ahead. Those who increase their visibility in the workplace are more likely to be considered for opportunities for professional advancement.

Use these strategies to boost your visibility:

• Speak up in meetings.
• Strengthen your relationship with your boss.
• Ask for high-visibility projects.
• Volunteer to represent your team.
• Participate in learning opportunities.
• Demonstrate your expertise.
• Form a Mastermind Group.
• Grow your network.
• Find a mentor.
• Highlight others’ achievements.

This way, you can increase your visibility, without bragging or stepping on other people’s toes. I also created an infographic to you to remember the main point.

Remember, there will be no perfect time for making a change. The prefect time is today. If you are troubled setting your goals, I’m here to help, contact me for a free clarity call!