The hardest thing I ever had to accept in my career 👇🏽
People aren’t responding to who I am. They’re responding to the signals I’m sending. And for years, I was sending the wrong ones without realizing it. 😅
I’d downplay my wins. I’d wait to be asked instead of raising my hand. I assumed the work would advocate for itself. Meanwhile, the people rising around me weren’t necessarily more skilled — they were just clearer about the impression they wanted to leave.
Here’s the reframe that changed everything for me: executives are not evaluating your work in a vacuum. They’re evaluating their perception of your work. That perception is built out of tiny, repeated signals — how you speak, how you show up, what your name gets attached to. And the beautiful part? Every one of those signals is something you can shape on purpose.
So tell me — which signal have you been sending by accident? Be honest in the comments, I’m not here to judge, I’ve done all four. 💬
And when you’re ready to start sending them intentionally, comment GUIDE below and I’ll get you started. 👇🏽
#corporategirl #girlboss #executivepresence #personalbranding #workingwomen
Throughout my career, I found that the biggest game-changer wasn't just delivering quality work, but being aware of the signals I was unintentionally sending. For example, early on I would often downplay my accomplishments, saying things like "it was nothing" or waiting to be asked before volunteering for projects. This approach caused me to be overlooked even though my results were strong. I learned that leadership often forms an impression about your value within seconds, and this impression is shaped by how you present yourself consistently — from the way you talk about your work, to how you show up even in low-stakes moments. One key insight was attaching my name clearly to successes. When colleagues and leaders can say "she's the one who delivered that project," it reinforces my impact in their minds. Consistency matters too. By maintaining a predictable and positive professional brand, people begin to trust your reliability and competence. This has been a powerful way to influence how others evaluate my performance beyond just raw output. Over time, I started purposefully choosing the signals I sent — whether that meant confidently sharing achievements, asking for opportunities, or being visible during moments others might overlook. If you ever feel like your efforts aren’t being recognized, it might be worth reflecting on your own "tiny signals." Are you inadvertently minimizing your value, or being too quiet in key moments? Shaping your executive presence with intention can elevate your career much faster than hard work alone. Just remember, these signals don’t require changing who you are; instead, they are about communicating your value clearly and consistently. Starting this shift transformed how I am perceived, and helped me move into roles I previously thought were out of reach.
