Melody Wilding, an executive coach for high-achievers and contributor to Harvard Business Review, shares insights on creating visibility for your work. She emphasizes that good work alone isn't enough; self-advocacy is crucial. Melody introduces the ‘story bank’ concept to help craft compelling narratives about achievements. She discusses the importance of communicating accomplishments and maintaining proactive relationships. It's all about ensuring your work is recognized while supporting the team's goals and enhancing overall visibility.
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insights INSIGHT
Good Work Doesn't Speak for Itself
Good work does not automatically guarantee recognition.
Leaders are busy, and achievements can get lost without active visibility efforts.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Reframe Self-Promotion
Reframe "self-promotion" as "visibility," an obligation to inform stakeholders.
Focus on presenting contributions, growth, and alignment with organizational goals.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
One-Year Vision
Create a one-year vision for your career and use it to guide your visibility efforts.
Focus on the work and stories that align with your future goals, not just current tasks.
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Managing by Harold Geneen with Alvin Moscow is a study in management methods most commonly associated with the 1970s. The book is part biographical, detailing Geneen's career and his successful management techniques that transformed ITT into a giant conglomerate. It also delves into management theory, providing insights and practical advice on effective management practices.
Melody Wilding: Managing Up
Melody Wilding is an executive and leadership coach for smart, sensitive high-achievers who are tired of getting in their own way. She teaches human behavior at Hunter College and is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Business Insider, who named her one of the “most innovative coaches.” She is the author of Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge*.
Good work speaks for itself. It’s a lie many of us have wished was true, but found that there’s actually much more work involved. In this conversation, Melody and I discuss what really helps in creating more visibility.
Key Points
Good work does not speak for itself.
Our fear of appearing self-promotional can hinder the visibility conversations that our leaders and team need from us.
A story will be told about your work. By having stories that you are ready to tell, you get to shape the narrative.
Instead of listing what you’ve done, highlight what you want to be known for.
Give visibility to work that is important to your team, puts you in contact with stakeholders, and impacts that bottom line.
Always have a 3-step pocket update at the ready. Share a (1) project, (2) detail, and (3) result.
Capitalize on casual conversation. Say yes to the right invitations and be the person that keeps the relationship going.
Resources Mentioned
Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge* by Melody Wilding
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
Get Noticed Without Selling Out, with Laura Huang (episode 480)
How to Start Finding Useful Stories, with David Hutchens (episode 593)
Getting Better at Internal Communication, with Roy Schwartz (episode 687)
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