As a former Chief HR Executive, I promoted and didn’t promote many good employees.
Visibility is crucial if you want to claim your seat at the table.
But there is a mistake I consistently witness people making to increase visibility, and it’s getting them noticed for the wrong reasons.
This mistake is prevalent across all organizations and at all levels, and that is attending meetings you do not need to attend.
What the employee (AKA you) think:
It will give me more visibility.
What other executives (including me) see:
One: You don’t know how to use your time effectively.
Two: You have FOMO. (Anyone who has FOMO is not ready for the next level of leadership. This is kindergarten politics, not executive leadership behavior.)
Three: Your priorities are unclear, and you are unclear on the organizational ask.
Four: You’re afraid to delegate fully.
So while you think you’re gaining viability by attending all these meetings… What the executives see is actually a lack of leadership.
This all boils down to productivity – how you manage your energy and attention.
My recommendation? Rock the meetings you know you need to attend and be ready to say no to the ones you don’t.
First, have a quick chat with the meeting organizer to determine what’s on the agenda.
Next, ask yourself: “Do I really need to be here or can someone else take my spot?”
And last, give the meeting a quick once-over to see if it’s worth your time and will support your priorities.
You’ve got this!
With love,
Mari Carmen
