Hidden Leadership and the Fear of Being Seen

You've built an impressive portfolio of skills over the years. You should be proud of yourself.

In meetings, you have brilliant ideas, but keep them to yourself.

You work hard, and your inner circle rate what you do. You believe you have a strong personal brand and that your work speaks for itself.

But you're beginning to realise that's not true because you feel you're getting left behind.

You say you're ready for the next level and talk about moving up, yet your visibility at work resembles your LinkedIn profile picture. A cold, grey, empty silhouette that repels connection and doesn't build trust.

Leadership, influence, and success require visibility. If you want to grow, you need to be seen.

It's 2025; come on, Felicia, Vijay, and Gary—you gotta do better than that. You need to be seen as someone who owns the results, makes the impact, and delivers the value—someone ready to own who they are and put their leadership identity out there.??

The fear of being seen is a strange contradiction. You want to stand out and be acknowledged, yet the idea of being seen feels risky and uncomfortable.

Hiding in the shadows might feel safe, but it prevents you from living up to your potential and others from fully crediting you for the work you deliver.

We are into the New Year, and I'm excited to kick off the Growth Mindset Guide Community for 2025. Join the waitlist to be the first to get early bird bonuses and updates. See you on the other side.

The Root of Hidden Leadership is Fear

At its core, the fear of being seen ties back to risk. Is it safe to stand up and claim my work? No? Better play safe and stay hidden.

So, you hide. You stay silent in meetings, pass up opportunities, and hope someone will notice your brilliance without you having to raise your hand. But this rarely happens.

Case Study

In several meetings with the CFO, my client T, a senior manager, was told by his new manager to?stay quiet during meetings?and let him do all the talking. T internalised these messages as negative from his manager, equating visibility with unsafe environments.

Eventually, T gave up on contributing to the meetings altogether.

When the time came to apply for an internal promotion, T wasn't even offered an interview as part of the process.

He was told he lacked visibility. After all the work he'd done in the background, he was being overlooked for a candidate who was half as good as he was.

His confidence crumbled.

Shortly after, this led to a breakdown in the relationship between T and his manager.

He started working with me on his leadership identity and for me to design a new career strategy that involved working on his visibility and impact in a new role.

The fear of being seen isn't just about being judged; it's about being judged and found lacking.

Unfortunately, leadership isn't about waiting to be discovered; it's about stepping forward and taking imperfect action.

Steps to Overcome Your Fear of Being Seen

• Acknowledge your ambition

What do you want? What do you want to be known for? Do you want to lead a global team, present to the C-suite, or build your brand as a thought leader?

You can't pursue a plan unless you're willing to take time to work out what you want.

• Show up for yourself

Being seen isn't about other people. It's about having the confidence to back yourself. Every time you show up for yourself, your self-belief grows. Your skills sharpen, your confidence builds, and with it your leadership identity.

Who do you want to be? Visualise your future self as a confident, authentic, and visible leader.

Every step you take brings you closer to embodying that identity.

• Start small, but start showing up as you

Visibility doesn't mean leaping into the spotlight overnight. Begin with small steps. Share an idea with a trusted colleague. Speak up in the next meeting. Every small action builds confidence and courage. Add a photo to your LinkedIn profile. (Profiles with an image are 60 per cent more likely to get their connection requests accepted - so if building a network is important to your career strategy add a picture as a minimum.)

• Redefine the meaning of feedback

Staying hidden often means facing the fear of judgment or receiving feedback that may be less than stellar. Criticism isn't a reflection of your worth; it's a tool for improvement. Use it to grow and refine what you are doing.

Listen to this episode of my podcast, The You Review, where I discuss how to give and receive feedback.

Being seen isn't about ego or self-promotion. It's about stepping into your potential and sharing your value with the world. As a Hidden Leader, you have ideas, skills, and insights that can inspire others – but only if you're willing to share them.

Yes, it's scary. Yes, it feels vulnerable. But growth only happens when you step out of the shadows.

Ask yourself:

• What's one step I can take today to be more visible?
• If I wasn't afraid, what would I do right now?
• What does the leader in me want to say, share, or create?

Being seen is a choice that requires you to summon your courage, vulnerability, and a deep belief that what you have will help the organisation and those within it.

You already have what it takes. Now, it's time to step forward.

I include a reflection exercise called the Permission Slip in each edition of the Growth Mindset Guide. Read it and jot down notes to see what comes up for you.

I'm Selina Yankson, a leadership coach and mindset mentor.

Creating an impact is my corporate love language.

If you have enjoyed the latest edition of The Growth Mindset Guide, please share it with someone in your network. I love answering questions, so leave your comments or connect with me in my direct messages. Ps. Don't forget to get on the Growth Mindset Guide Community waitlist.