The Visibility of Excellence: How to Build Influence & Be Recognized as a Leader

Raising your Standard of Excellence

Dear Readers,

Over the past two weeks in The Storyteller, we’ve explored how to shift your mindset and build a strong framework for excellence. But excellence, while personal, shouldn’t stay hidden.

Being excellent is one thing—being recognized for it is another. This week, we explore how to make your work, leadership, and value visible and influential, so that excellence becomes part of your reputation, not just your routine.

Why Visibility Matters in Leadership

Quiet excellence might keep your job secure—but visible excellence creates opportunities, opens doors, and positions you for greater impact.

Being seen doesn’t mean bragging. It means owning your value and making sure others can benefit from what you bring to the table.

Ask yourself:

• Do the right people know what I’m capable of?

• Am I showing up with clarity, consistency, and confidence?

• Have I built a brand that reflects my commitment to excellence?

Strategies for Making Your Excellence Visible

✅ Lead with Intentionality and Presence

• Whether you’re in a 1:1 meeting or a cross-functional presentation, show up prepared and lead with purpose.

• Ask great questions, offer solutions, and be the person who raises the quality of the room.

• Be the kind of leader others are proud to follow—not just because of your output, but because of your example.

🔗 Revisit: Elevating Your Standard of Excellence – The Mindset Shift

✅ Build a Reputation for High Performance

• Consistency builds trust. Deliver exceptional work repeatedly, not occasionally.

• Follow through. Meet deadlines. Raise your hand for the hard stuff.

• Become the person who is known for “owning the outcome”—not just doing the job.

💬 Your excellence should speak for itself—but you should still help people hear it.

✅ Share What You Know – With Purpose

• Speak on panels, lead trainings, mentor others. Visibility isn’t just for you—it’s how you strengthen the community.

• Start with your team or professional group. Host a brown-bag session. Write a LinkedIn post. Lead a coffee chat.

• When you share knowledge, you position yourself as a thought leader—not just a contributor.

✅ Develop and Own Your Personal Brand

• Your brand isn’t just your resume—it’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room.

• Align your brand with your excellence:

  • Are you dependable?

  • Strategic?

  • A builder?

  • An innovator?

• Show up with that consistency online, in meetings, and in how you support others.

💡 People invest in what they can see. Show them your standard, and they’ll show you opportunities.

Personal Insight: Visibility Changed My Career

For years, I believed that if I just kept my head down and worked hard, the right people would notice. But I learned that quiet excellence can go unnoticed, especially in large, complex environments.

So I started being more intentional:

• I led lunch-and-learns on topics I knew well.

• I posted insights on LinkedIn from my experiences.

• I offered to mentor junior professionals and share career advice.

It wasn’t about self-promotion—it was about creating value and letting that value be seen. And that changed everything.

Survey Questions: Your Visibility Strategy

Your answers help shape the leadership conversation inside The Storyteller.

Recommended Reading

📖 Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
📖 The Brand Called You by Peter Montoya

Join the Conversation

What does visibility look like for you this year? Are you building a leadership presence that matches your level of excellence? Reply to this email or drop a comment—I’d love to hear your story.

Connect with Me

Want to talk through your visibility strategy or how to elevate your leadership brand? Let’s connect. Schedule a 15-minute intro call via www.demalo-ent.com

📌 Coming Soon: Our next leadership series kicks off next month—stay tuned for what’s ahead!

Warm regards,
DeWayne Allen
Founder of The Storyteller Newsletter
I guide leaders and STEM professionals to succeed and innovate.