Getting More Comfortable Being Seen

For many women—especially women of colour—visibility can feel complicated.

We’re often taught to stay humble, to keep our heads down, and let our work speak for itself. Maybe you grew up hearing that advocating for yourself is “being pushy” or that confidence should be quiet. 

And in professional spaces where you already feel like an outsider, the idea of standing out can feel uncomfortable—maybe even unsafe.

But here’s the truth: Being visible isn’t about showing off.
It’s about letting others recognize the impact you’re already making.

Visibility is a powerful tool for professional growth—and it doesn’t require you to change who you are. It simply asks you to own what you bring to the table.

Here are 5 ways to grow your comfort with visibility, without compromising your values:

✅ Start small.
Visibility doesn’t have to mean being the loudest in the room. Start by sharing a recent win with your manager or volunteering to give a quick update in a meeting. Every time you speak up, you build the muscle—and the confidence—to do it again.

✅ Reframe the discomfort.
When self-doubt creeps in, and you catch yourself wondering, “What will they think of me?”—try flipping the question: “What might become possible if they actually understood my value?”
Visibility can open doors to new opportunities, meaningful work, and greater impact—not just for you, but for those who benefit from your contributions.

✅ Practice your voice.
The more you talk about your work—whether in a team meeting, on LinkedIn, or with a trusted colleague—the more natural it will feel. Confidence comes from repetition, not perfection.

✅ Amplify others—and let them amplify you.
One of the easiest ways to step into visibility is by lifting others up. Give credit, share someone’s great idea in a meeting, or highlight a colleague’s accomplishment. Often, this generosity gets reciprocated—and it creates a culture where your contributions are also more likely to be seen and acknowledged.

✅ Document and share your wins.
Start a simple “brag file” or success tracker. Capture positive feedback, outcomes from your work, or anything you’re proud of. Then, use this to shape how you speak about your impact in performance reviews, casual check-ins, or even team newsletters. When you get used to naming your wins to yourself, it gets easier to share them with others.

You don’t need to become someone else to gain visibility.
You don’t need to be loud to be heard.

You just need to trust that your voice—and your contributions—deserve to be seen

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