One Career-Boosting Factor Aspiring Execs Can’t Afford to Ignore

We may have this in common.

• You were raised to do your best work with pride and integrity. So, you let that speak for itself.

• Maybe you were taught that talking about your accomplishments is boastful.

• Or that asking for what you want isn’t lady-like.

• Or that working twice as hard is the success formula.

Those values aren’t completely wrong.

But the guidance was incomplete.

Let me ask you this:?

Are your ideas, impact, and aspirations visible to the right people to advance your career in 2025?

Results alone don’t get you noticed.?

I had overlooked one critical career-boosting factor and maybe you are, too.

Communication Is Queen

Practicing intentional communication was where I fell short.

• Ensure?you, your ideas, impact, needs, and aspirations are known to the right people.
• It is absolutely necessary to achieve executive-level roles and salary growth.
• Increase the quality of what you communicate and to whom.?

When I think of the missed impact, opportunities, and earnings/investment growth over three years, it's a lesson I wished I'd known sooner.

So, I'm sharing it with you now.?

A Pivotal Moment

This moment changed the trajectory of my career.

It was my third year with a new employer and multiple reorganizations. Chances are you've experienced one or more.?

The last one negatively affected my job level and pay. I was unhappy.

My third new manager invited me to our first one-on-one.

We exchanged pleasantries. Then, he asked, “Are you happy here?”

I hesitated. I thought, "Was this a way to weed out unhappy employees?"?

The Decision

But I decided to take a chance and communicate where I’d been, where I was, and where I aspired to be:

"I’ll put it this way. I’m underutilized. What I do today, I did early in my career. It’s important to me to feel challenged and make a bigger impact. When I joined this company, I expected to advance, Instead, I’ve gone backward due to a reorganization. While I would like to stay?with this division, I’ve started pursuing other opportunities."

I paused anticipating?his reaction. To my surprise, he nodded and said, “I understand. I can’t make any promises, but I have some ideas.”

The Outcome

Within months, the first promotion at the company occurred, and two more after that--including a seat at the executive's table.

Looking back, I realize what happened in that meeting:

• I gave visibility to the facts-no emotion. Here's what I expected, what happened, and what wasn't working.

• I gave visibility to my aspirations. I clearly stated what I wanted: challenge, growth, and impact.

• I gave visibility to my intentions. I admitted I was actively seeking opportunities that aligned with my goals but would have preferred to stay with the division.

What About You

Are you using your voice to give visibility to your perspective, impact, and aspirations? It took practice for me.

Here's where you could start:

• In a one-on-one with your manager: “It felt good to [impact X, Y, Z] this year. Now I’m ready to make an even bigger impact as [desired role or opportunity]. Do I have your support?”

• During a group discussion: “I see your point about X. Here's additional perspective." Then, share your thoughts.)

• When asked how you’re doing: “I’m excited about the business outcomes that will come from the [X]?project I just led that increased our speed-to-market by 30%. The next step is [Y].”

Your voice is powerful. Use it to move you forward.

What is one?thing you will make visible this week that moves you closer to your vision in 2025??

A Thank You

As we wrap up the Getting Visible series, I want to thank you for traveling this journey together. Keep amplifying your visibility in the best ways to grow, thrive, and advance.

To help you reflect on the impact you made this year and plan your 2025 vision, here's a resource just for you: Grow Your Career: A Self-Evaluation Blueprint.

This tool is designed to:

• Help you assess your growth and contributions over the past year.
• Position you to talk about them in a meaningful way.
• Clarify your goals for the year ahead.
• Prepare for career-boosting conversations with your leaders.

Download your free copy >>> here.

I'll close out the series with this quote from Audre Lorde.

"Visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the source of our greatest strength."

Rooting for you,

Valissa

About the Author

Hi, I’m Valissa Pierrelouis, a leadership coach specializing in helping mid-career women amplify their leadership value, voice, and visibility to achieve executive roles and salary growth—without overworking. As the creator of the 4-month ELEVATED group coaching program, I guide women leaders to transition from being perceived as diligent "worker bee" leaders to being recognized as strategic "big picture" thinkers poised for executive leadership. The next cohort starts soon.