(3-4 mins)
I have a little confession: For years, I hated talking about my work. Not because I wasn’t proud of it or because I didn’t have an impact. But because every time I tried to explain what I’d done, it felt awkward, forced and like I was tiptoeing between “sharing” and praying that people didn’t think I was bragging.
If you grew up first- or second-gen like me (the first in your family to build a career here, or the child of immigrants balancing two cultures), you probably know this feeling too. We weren’t raised to spotlight ourselves, we were raised to stay humble, work hard, avoid drawing attention to ourselves, let others shine, and trust that people will notice.
Except in corporate America, people don’t notice, they assume. And silence gets misread every day. Quiet translates to satisfied, reserved translates to unsure, and being humble translates to not being ready. It took me too long to realize that my silence wasn’t humility, it was self-erasure, and it was costing me opportunities, credibility, and visibility I had already earned. So I started paying attention.
.
And here’s what clicked:
1. They didn’t talk about themselves or their effort, they talked about outcomes.
They didn’t say, “I worked really hard on this.” They said, “Here’s the impact this had.” The energy was never “look at me.” It was “here’s what moved the team forward.” They explained the impact rather than the effort because that’s what gave people an understanding of what happened and how to move forward. No one really cares how long it took you or how many iterations you created before the final one. They just want to know that you accomplished the task and the impact it had so they then know how to move forward. Impact over effort.
2. They always explained why their work mattered.
Before I learned this, I used to give updates like I was reading a grocery list: “I built the deck;” “I ran the analysis;” or “I sent the report.” Was it clear? Sure. Was it strategic? Absolutely not. Leaders explain why it matters: “This insight helped unblock the product team and speed up the next milestone.” When you understand the why, it helps inform the next move and how to go about it successfully rather than taking blind shots in the dark.
3. They talked about their work like they were letting people in, not bragging about themselves.
The people who do this well sound almost… casual. They come across as curious and thoughtful. They say things like: “Here’s what I was solving for…” or “Here’s what surprised me…” or “Here’s what I’m paying attention to next…” It’s not performative or polished. It’s just what they’re actually thinking. It’s real and as a result people lean in because it feels like they’re being given insight, not being pitched or commanded.
4. Their language was clear, not loud or not fancy.
The leaders I admired didn’t dominate rooms, they guided them. Phrases like: “Here’s what I recommend…; ” “Here’s the risk I’m tracking…;” and “Here’s what needs a decision…” These phrases all signify leadership even when said quietly or almost especially when said silently because no one is trying to prove their worth. This one was a game-changer for me: presence isn’t volume, it’s clarity.
5. They practiced visibility in small, consistent, low-pressure ways.
The people who hate talking about their work tend to wait until they have to, whether that’s in a promotion cycle, a review, or a crisis. But the leaders I studied didn’t treat visibility as a moment, they treated it as daily or weekly maintenance with quick updates, small check-ins and short summaries. It wasn’t to brag, it was to keep people informed and moving forward. And that’s when I realized, talking about your work isn’t self-promotion. It’s just good communication and everyone benefits when you do it.
This Week’s Reflection + Action
Pick one moment this week to talk about your work in a way that feels natural:
Share the outcome, not the effort
Add one sentence about why your work mattered
Tell a tiny “behind the scenes” detail
Use a leadership phrase like “Here’s what I recommend next”
Give a short update about something you moved forward
Try it once, just once and notice: Did people listen differently? Did you feel more grounded? Did someone give you credit you usually don’t get? Did you feel less… cringe-y?
Visibility is a muscle that needs to be exercised more regularly than you think. Every rep counts.
Reply and tell me which one you’re going to try this week - and the outcome you’re hoping for. I love hearing from you.
👋🏽 Hi! I’m Minal - a Career Success & Leadership Coach for 1st & 2nd gen professionals (the first in your family to build a career here or the child of immigrants balancing two cultures). I help you move past outdated work advice, communicate with confidence and clarity, and show up as a strong, credible leader so that you can earn promotions (and raises) faster without burning out, shrinking yourself, or pretending to be someone you’re not. If that sounds interesting to you, reply to this email to see how we can work together.
🔥 If this resonated with you, send it to someone who works hard but hates talking about their work — the person everyone respects but not enough leaders see.. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, join Unmuted here 👇🏽 to get next week’s issue. You don't want to miss it!
See you next week,
Minal
