The Angel Edit: When Doing Great Work Is Not Enough

The Angel Edit: When Doing Great Work Is Not Enough

Read Time: 5 minutes

Topics Covered: Strategic Visibility, Self-Advocacy, Personal Branding, Career Growth

It really made my day when my client Katie, told me she had landed multiple promotions in a year and recently secured her Chief of Staff role.

She’s an incredible example of what’s possible when you own your brilliance.

And she’s one of many.

But here’s a common scenario that I see all the time with high achievers.

You work hard, you deliver incredible results, and you go above and beyond.

But if no one outside your immediate boss knows about it, you’ll stay invisible to the people who decide your next career move.

This is why I always say that doing great work is just the entry ticket.

To grow your career, you need to dedicate at least 20% of your time to building the skills to be seen, heard, and valued.

You need to own your brilliance.

In Katie’s case, she secured an international move, made a successful career pivot, and landed multiple promotions within a year.

But what truly set her apart wasn't just doing great work, it was learning how to make her work visible.

This means learning to show up and be seen for the great work you’re already doing.

And no, this isn’t about being the loudest. But rather, being the most strategic and intentional.

Here’s my Own Your Brilliance framework to help you do just that:

Step 1: Clarify your value

What are 3-5 core results that make you exceptional at your job?

Think beyond basic skills and about what seems easy and obvious for you but difficult for others.

For example: Swap “I manage projects” for “I delivered a $2M project on time, saving the company 15% in costs.”

You can also keep a “Brilliance Journal” to log wins, feedback, and metrics weekly!

Step 2: Activate your own PR agency for strategic visibility

Share updates beyond your immediate manager.

For example, share these updates in cross-functional meetings, company channels, and industry spaces.

You can also leverage “light-touch visibility” where you share small wins regularly instead of waiting for big events.

Step 3: Grow Your Influence with self-advocacy skills

Being excellent at what you do is important.

But excellence alone doesn’t guarantee recognition or advancement.

You also need to ask for what you need to thrive and grow.

This could mean:

• Putting yourself forward for stretch assignments, leadership of high-impact projects, or roles in cross-functional teams
• Seeking out sponsors to ensure your contributions are visible and acknowledged in the right rooms.

 At the core, self-advocacy isn’t about vanity, it is value alignment.

When you get clear on the value you bring and learn to articulate it effectively, you stop chasing opportunities and start attracting them. Best of all, you create options for your career that you didn't even know were possible.

If you want to master this skill, I break it down further in my Career Power Move Playbook, a 5-step guide to standing out and stepping up.

Rooting for you,

Angel Kilian

Founder l Career inFocus