As I reflect on the past year, one theme stands out in my coaching and mentoring conversations: the quiet but profound struggle many professionals face in recognizing and communicating their value. It’s a challenge that transcends roles, industries, and career stages. People who are talented, driven, and impactful often wrestle with the same hesitation: they work hard, solve problems, and deliver results but struggle to make their contributions visible.

I’ve seen this play out time and again. Brilliant professionals come to me saying, “I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but I feel invisible.” And they’re not wrong – when you’re hesitant to articulate your impact, the recognition you deserve can slip through the cracks. This isn’t just about receiving credit; it’s about owning your story and creating opportunities for growth, both for yourself and the teams you lead.

Over the past year, I’ve made it a priority to help people understand the value they create and, just as importantly, to help them feel comfortable and confident in sharing it. If there’s one message I want all of us to carry into this fresh year, it’s this: our work deserves to be seen.

We often think that if we just keep our heads down and work hard, someone will notice. But hard work isn’t always visible, especially in fast-moving environments where silence can be mistaken for absence. The truth is, if you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will – not because they don’t value you, but because your contributions aren’t always apparent unless you make them known.

The first step in this journey is deeply personal: acknowledging your value to yourself. In coaching sessions, I’ve often asked clients to pause and reflect on the challenges they’ve overcome and the outcomes they’ve driven. It’s remarkable how often people underestimate their impact simply because their contributions feel natural to them. This year, make it a point to ask yourself: What have I solved? What have I improved? Recognize your unique value, and own it unapologetically.

From there, build a habit of documenting your wins. One of the simplest but most effective strategies I have encouraged is keeping a running record of achievements. Not for a performance review or a promotion pitch – though it helps with those – but as a way to anchor your confidence. There is power in looking back and seeing, in black and white, the tangible ways you’ve made a difference.

I also emphasize flipping the way we ask for feedback. Instead of broad questions like “How am I doing?” or “What could I improve?” shift the focus to your strengths. Ask, “What should I double down on?” or “What do you see as my greatest contributions?” These questions not only spark richer conversations but also help others articulate your value, reinforcing it in their minds and yours.

The idea that “my work speaks for itself” is one of the biggest myths we carry. Your work should speak for itself, but often it needs a voice – yours. Over the past year, I’ve worked with folks to frame their contributions in stories anchored in results. It’s not about self-aggrandizement; it’s about clarity and resonance. A story backed by data is memorable: “This initiative saved the company $500,000 and improved team efficiency by 20%,” is a remarkable narrative that sticks.

A recurring challenge I’ve seen is the discomfort around switching from “we” to “I.” Teamwork is crucial, but erasing yourself from the story does a disservice not only to you but to the team that benefits from your leadership. Use “we” to highlight collaboration, but don’t shy away from “I” when describing your specific contributions. It’s a subtle but powerful way to balance humility with self-advocacy.

Reputation, as I often remind my clients, is one of your most valuable professional assets. But if you don’t actively shape it, others will do it for you, often inaccurately. I encourage everyone I work with to share their wins consistently and intentionally with key stakeholders. This isn’t about boasting; it’s about ensuring your contributions are understood and remembered.

Language matters, too. Over the past year, I’ve coached many on eliminating words and phrases that undercut authority. Phrases like “Sorry to bother you” or “Just my two cents” can seem polite but subtly diminish the power of your ideas. Instead, step into your voice with confidence. Assert your perspective.

Lastly, and most critically, I have seen how reframing self-promotion as a service instead of an ego-driven act can be transformative. Hiding your value isn’t humility; it’s withholding insights and solutions that could benefit your team, your organization, and beyond. By sharing your impact, you’re not just elevating yourself – you are also paving the way for others to see what’s possible.

As we step into 2025, this is my soft challenge to you: own your story, capture your worth, communicate it powerfully. Recognize the unique value you bring, and don’t be afraid to make it visible. The world needs your perspective, your contributions, and your leadership. Silence serves no one, least of all you.

This year, let’s leave behind the fear of sounding “braggy” and embrace the power of being “seen”. Take up space. Use your voice. And tell the story only you can tell.

This article builds on a related article that I published last week: