Myth: If you're good at what you do, that's enough. The work speaks for itself.
Welcome to your Peak of the Week, where we bridge the gap between external success and internal fulfillment.
This Week →
The "My Work Speaks for Itself" Myth
Three Ways to Start Speaking For Your Work
Access to my Career Alignment Accelerator
Now lets get into it, shall we?
How many of you have found yourself in a career transition in the last 12-18 months?
It’s happening a lot, and as an executive recruiter, I have some strong opinions on what it takes to land with confidence. If this is you, read on. If not, please forward to a friend. My intention is to help as many as I can make their career transition time less painful.
Last week I had a conversation with an executive who’s been in transition for four months with little to show for it. When I asked about how he promotes himself, he said something I hear constantly: "My work should speak for itself."
He is brilliant at what he does. Twenty years of solid results, respected by his teams, known for turning around struggling divisions. However, he was making a critical mistake that I often see.
He believed the myth: "If you're good at what you do, that's enough. The work speaks for itself."
Nope. Your accomplishments speak for themselves when you learn how to properly articulate them and have the confidence to sell by having stories that showcase your uniqueness.
Being good at your job and being good at selling your value are two completely different skills. Most professionals excel at the first and struggle with the second.
I know it’s uncomfortable to hear, but sitting back and hoping your work gets noticed is a recipe for being stuck in transition forever.
Yes, you are a whiz who can navigate complex organizational change, but when asked, "What makes you different from other candidates?" I hear the SAME answer out of 99% of people.
I build incredible teams
I am a loyal employee who goes the extra mile
I love to develop strategy
But here's what they're missing: What makes you different from everyone else who does your job?
Pretend like there were a hundred other people in your company that had the exact same job as you did. What can you say that you've done that no one else can say?
Were you the first to launch a company-wide training?
Were you hand-selected by management to create a new division?
Were you the first in company history to ….. {hopefully you get where I’m going with this}
You're not bragging when you clearly articulate how you solved a problem that saved your company two million dollars for instance. You're simply telling your story in clear language.
Three ways to start speaking for your work today:
1. Write your "impact stories" down. Pick 3 achievements from the last two years and write one paragraph for each: Challenge + Action + Result. Be specific about numbers and outcomes.
2. Practice the "context bridge." When someone asks what you do, don't just give your title. Try: "I'm a leader who specializes in [specific value]. For example, in my last role I [brief impact story]."
3. Replace "responsible for" language. Every time you see "responsible for" or "managed," replace it with action-oriented language that shows impact. Instead of "responsible for team of 15," try "built and led a 15-person team that achieved [specific result]."
In Summary
The professionals who land jobs more quickly aren't necessarily more talented. They've learned to translate their accomplishments into compelling narratives that demonstrate impact.
What problems do you solve? And how do you solve them differently than your peers?
This takes intentional time and practice to change the way you’ve been trained. The job market is shifting and will continue to shift. Technology is making it so incredibly impersonal. We get to put the HUMANITY back into it by telling stories about real people that you’ve impacted with your work.
Your Turn →
If you're a professional in transition and recognize yourself in this pattern, I’m offering my Career Alignment Accelerator. Learn more about that here.
I only work with four professionals at a time because this transformation requires intensive, personalized attention. If this resonates, I’d love to help.
Your expertise deserves to be seen.
With deep belief in your magnificence,
Laura