Hope Isn’t a Strategy: Make Your Impact Visible Before it’s Too Late
When was the last time your work truly "spoke for itself"? If you're banking on your years of service to keep you safe during layoffs, you might be gambling with your career. In this article, I'll show you why the hidden gems are often the first to go when budgets tighten, and why your "Brag Book" might be the most important document you create this year. Ready to transform from the company's best-kept secret into its most visible asset? Let's talk about strategic visibility that doesn't require shouting from the rooftops (unless that's your thing).
Companies are making tough decisions about who stays and who goes. Even if your industry isn’t in the headlines yet, that doesn’t mean decisions aren’t being made. If budgets are tightening, hiring is frozen, or leadership is suddenly vague about the future, take it as your cue. Now is the time to ensure people remember exactly what you bring to the table.
Too many mid and late-career professionals assume their reputation will carry them. 'I’ve put in the years. People know what I bring.' However, if people don’t see your impact, they won’t think of you when it matters most. If they don’t think of you, they won’t fight to keep you.
Hope isn’t a strategy. Visibility is.
Now is the time to pull together your Brag Book, Smile File, career receipts. Whatever you call it, start gathering proof of your impact before you need it. Client testimonials, performance reviews, thank-you emails, and presentations that showcase your expertise all help. If you don’t document your wins, you make it easier for people to forget them.
At this stage in your career, surface-level wins aren’t enough. Focus on strategic impacts:
- The organizational transformation you led that repositioned your division for growth
- Talent you identified, developed, and elevated who now lead key initiatives
- Client relationships you have maintained through multiple economic cycles
- Cross-functional initiatives where your leadership broke through departmental silos
- The strategic pivot you championed that created new revenue streams
Document not just what you achieved, but the organizational context that made it significant. When you have been somewhere for years, people forget the baseline problems you solved long ago. Remind them of the institutional challenges you have overcome and the legacy systems or processes you improved that others now take for granted.
Self-promotion does not have to mean shouting on LinkedIn. Some of the smartest career moves happen in quiet conversations. Reconnect with former colleagues, mentors, or even that old boss who once said, 'Let’s stay in touch.' Set up coffee chats, not to ask for a job, but to remind people what you do best. A simple, "I’ve been thinking about where I add the most value, and I’d love to hear what’s going on in your world" can open doors.
Layoffs don’t just impact those who lose their jobs. They reshape teams, industries, and career paths. Now is the time to remind decision-makers of your impact, strengthen connections, and set yourself up for what’s next. Your career isn’t something to wait and see about. Make yourself visible now, before decisions are made for you.