why your network and visibility matter more than you think

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Welcome back to House of Leadership. We explore what it really takes to grow and lead successfully in a fast-paced, high-performance environment. We go beyond metrics to talk about influence, visibility, mindset, and the habits that separate good from great. Whether you're climbing the ladder or helping others do the same, you'll find practical insights to elevate your impact.

🔎 What We’ll Learn in Today’s Newsletter

• Why consistent, reliable performance is your foundation—but not the full story

• How visibility and influence can open doors, performance alone can't

• The role of networking in shaping your career trajectory

• Practical ways to build authentic relationships across your company

• How to stay top-of-mind with senior leaders without self-promotion

• Why being known for something matters—and how to define that “something” for yourself

I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind lately — something that’s come up in conversations with peers, during skip levels, and even as I reflect on my own career trajectory.

We often focus heavily on being reliable performers. We show up, we meet (or exceed) our goals, we respond quickly, we’re the ones people can count on. And don’t get me wrong — reliability is the foundation of any great career. But here’s the hard truth: being reliable alone isn’t enough.

In today’s fast-moving, interconnected world of work, there’s something equally important — maybe even more important in the long run:

Your visibility and your network.

It’s the combination of consistent performance and intentional relationship-building that separates those who are simply “doing well” from those who accelerate into the most meaningful, impactful roles. Let me explain what I mean — and why this matters for all of us.

✅ First: Reliability is Non-Negotiable

Let’s start here: being someone others can count on is still the bedrock. If you’re dropping the ball, constantly late, or hard to pin down, your visibility or network won’t save you. Reliability builds trust. It’s your baseline.

When someone says “Oh yeah, I know them — they’re solid,” that reputation follows you, opens doors, and gets you invited to interesting projects.

But being reliable isn’t the end goal. It’s the starting line.

Why?

Because in every organisation, there are dozens — maybe hundreds — of people who are also reliable. And if you’re not actively cultivating visibility and relationships, your name might not come up when it matters most.

👀 What Does Visibility Really Mean?

Visibility is about being known — not in a performative way, but in a purposeful one.

It’s about making your work and your impact known to the right people. It’s about ensuring your contributions aren’t just buried in a project plan or spreadsheet, but are actively recognised and understood by others — especially those outside your immediate team.

Too often, I see brilliant, hard-working individuals operating quietly behind the scenes. They assume their great work will naturally be noticed.

Sometimes it is.

Often, it’s not.

We don’t work in a meritocracy where the best work automatically floats to the top. We work in a complex, collaborative environment where relationships and communication amplify impact. If no one knows what you’re doing, or why it matters, then the organisation is missing out — and so are you.

🤝 Why Your Network is a Career Superpower

Your network isn’t just about who you know — it’s about who knows you and what you bring to the table.

It’s your reputation across teams. It’s how you hear about new opportunities early. It’s who you call when you need a quick gut check, a sounding board, or a partner on something ambitious. It’s the difference between navigating a tough moment alone or having five allies ready to support you.

When I look at the moments in my career where I’ve grown the most — stretch projects, internal promotions, joining big cross-functional initiatives — every single one of them was unlocked through relationships.

Not because I asked for favours. Not because I schmoozed. But because I had taken the time, over weeks and months and years, to build genuine connections — to be known, trusted, and respected beyond my immediate circle.

That kind of network doesn't happen overnight. But it starts with simple things:

• Reach out beyond your function — Set up virtual coffees or 15-minute chats with people in other departments. Ask about their work, their goals, and their challenges. Listen well.

• Be present and engaged — When you’re in meetings or cross-team spaces, speak up. Contribute. Share context others might not have. Offer to help.

• Lift others up — Celebrate people’s wins publicly. Give shout-outs in Slack, in meetings, in updates. What goes around, comes around.

🗞️ Things worth checking out

Book I am reading at the moment:

🧠 A Thought Experiment

Imagine two people. Both are top performers. Both are hitting their KPIs. Both are technically excellent.

But one is quietly operating in the background, mostly known by their own team, focused on execution.

The other is actively building cross-functional relationships. They speak up in all-hands. They take on stretch assignments. They help solve adjacent problems. They give visibility to others. They’ve taken the time to learn how other parts of the business work.

When a new role, a high-impact project, or a business-critical challenge emerges, which one do you think comes to mind?

It’s the second one.

Not because they’re better. Not because they’re louder.

But because they’ve made themselves known and useful in more places.

🗣 “But I Don’t Like Self-Promotion…”

This is the most common hesitation I hear.

Visibility isn’t about arrogance. It’s not about posting daily status updates or making everything about you. It’s about making your work useful to others and ensuring people know how you’re driving impact, so they can support, leverage, and recognise it.

Here are some low-key ways to build visibility that feel natural:

• Share learnings — “Here’s what worked for us in solving X — might help someone else tackling something similar.”

• Ask questions in public spaces — “Has anyone dealt with Y? Curious how others approached it.”

• Offer help proactively — “Noticed your team’s rolling out something new — happy to chat if you want a second pair of eyes.”

You’re not promoting yourself — you’re contributing value. That’s what real visibility is.

🧭 Practical Steps to Try This Month

If this resonates, and you’re wondering how to put it into action, here are five simple steps to try:

1. Map your network – Who do you talk to regularly? Who would you benefit from knowing better? Who in other departments overlaps with your work?

2. Schedule two “discovery chats” this month – 15–20 minutes with someone outside your immediate team. Learn, connect, ask how you can support them.

3. Bring something to the surface – Find one piece of work you’ve done recently and find a way to share the insight or outcome more broadly.

4. Ask for feedback – In your next 1:1, ask your manager or mentor: “Where do you think I’m under-visible right now? Who else should know what I’m working on?”

5. Start a ‘wins & impact’ doc – Track your weekly progress, shout-outs, customer wins, and successful experiments. This helps when you need to summarise your impact or go for a stretch role.

🔄 Final Thought: Reliability + Visibility = Reach

At the end of the day, we want to build careers — and teams — that are dependable, impactful, and deeply connected. Where great work is recognised and multiplied, not hidden away. Where relationships unlock new doors, spark new ideas, and carry you forward.

So, yes — be reliable.

But don’t stop there.

Be known. Be visible. Build the kind of network that lifts others up, opens doors, and extends your reach far beyond the boundaries of your job description.

That’s how we grow. That’s how we lead. That’s how we make the biggest difference — together.

Want more?

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