For years, Ms. Chika Uwazie believed that good work would speak for itself—until she watched someone else get promoted for presenting her idea. In this powerful reflection, she dismantles the myth of quiet excellence and reveals the real formula for professional growth: visibility. With candid lessons and practical strategies, Chika shares how she went from overlooked to undeniable—not by being louder, but by being intentional about how her brilliance is seen and heard.
“I have watched less qualified people get promoted because they were LOUDER.
Not smarter. Not more capable. Just louder.
I’d sit in meetings with brilliant ideas dying in my throat while mediocre thoughts got standing ovations. Why? Because I thought good work speaks for itself.
Spoiler: It doesn’t.
Here’s what broke me: Watching someone present MY strategy – the one I’d mentioned quietly in the hallway – to thunderous applause and a promotion.
That’s when I learned the brutal truth about visibility:
Being brilliant in silence is professional suicide.
The Visibility Equation Nobody Teaches You:
Excellence + Silence = Invisible
Mediocrity + Volume = Promotable
It’s not fair. But it’s real.
So I had to unlearn everything I’d been taught about “letting your work speak for itself.” That’s advice designed to keep you grateful and underpaid.
Here’s what strategic self-promotion actually looks like:
Document Everything (Then Share It)
Started sending weekly “wins” emails to my manager. Not novels. Just bullets:
– Closed X deal worth $Y
– Solved Z problem saving us A hours
– Led B initiative with C results
She started quoting my emails in executive meetings. Suddenly, I existed.
The 10-Minute Rule
In every meeting, I make sure I speak for at least 10 minutes total. Not rambling. Strategic contributions.
Track it. You’ll be shocked how little airtime you’re actually taking.
Own Your Ideas in Real Time
“Building on what I mentioned to Sarah last week…”
“As I outlined in my email yesterday…”
“This extends the framework I shared…”
Gentle reminders that yes, this was YOUR idea.
The Strategic CC
Stop having brilliant conversations in private. Follow up important discussions with an email:
“As we discussed, here’s the approach I recommend…”
CC: Your boss. Their boss. Anyone who should know you’re the brain behind the operation.
Here’s what they don’t tell you about self-promotion:
It’s not bragging if it’s facts.
It’s not aggressive if it’s strategic.
It’s not optional if you want to get paid.
I went from invisible to undeniable. From passed over to sought after. From whispering ideas to commanding rooms.
Not by being louder. By being strategic about my volume.
The Three-Part Visibility Formula:
1. Do excellent work (table stakes)
2. Document that work (evidence)
3. Make sure decision-makers know about it (strategy)
Skip step 3, and you’re just another talented person wondering why you’re still in the same role.
Your brilliance is not a secret worth keeping.
Career Glow-Up Diaries, Episode 8: If you don’t tell your story, someone else will. And they’ll probably get promoted for it.
What finally made you stop being your own best-kept secret?
If this post resonates, share it with your network.”
© Chika Uwazie