287: The Visibility Factor: Why Hard Work Alone Isn’t Enough with Susan Barber
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287: The Visibility Factor: Why Hard Work Alone Isn’t Enough with Susan Barber
For many professionals, hard work feels like it should be enough. Do your job well, deliver results, and opportunities will follow, right? In my conversation with Susan Barber, we unpack why that belief can quietly limit career growth, especially for thoughtful, high-performing leaders who prefer to stay behind the scenes.
Susan spent over two decades rising through the ranks at Kraft Heinz, often being pulled into roles others believed she was ready for, long before she believed it herself. Despite strong performance and recognition as top talent, she received unexpected feedback: she wasn’t visible enough. That moment was jarring, not because she wasn’t contributing, but because her contributions weren’t being seen or heard in the rooms where decisions were made.
What followed was a powerful shift in perspective. Visibility, Susan explains, isn’t self-promotion. Its responsibility. When leaders hold back insights, questions, or context out of fear or self-doubt, they don’t just limit themselves; they limit their teams and the quality of decisions being made. Reframing visibility as service helped Susan show up differently -- prepared, intentional, and confident without needing to change who she was.
That lesson became the foundation for The Visibility Factor and her recently released workbook, Your Journey To Visibility Workbook, which guides readers through reflecting on their careers, uncovering invisible strengths, and intentionally positioning themselves for what’s next. From imposter syndrome to personal brand, Susan emphasizes that growth requires noticing the patterns we’ve been repeating; often unconsciously, and choosing differently.
Whether you’re navigating leadership, contemplating a career shift, or quietly wondering why your hard work isn’t translating into advancement, this conversation is an invitation to look inward first. Visibility isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about letting more of you be seen on purpose, in ways that matter.
In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:
Why visibility ≠ self-promotion
How imposter syndrome quietly limits career growth
The difference between being busy and being visible
Why introverts often struggle with visibility—and how to reframe it
How feedback (even painful feedback) can become a career-defining gift
What it really means to “do the job before you get the job”
Practical ways to show up more intentionally without changing who you are
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About Tammy, host of
Work from the inside out
Before launching my coaching practice, I worked in mental health, higher education, public policy, and fundraising. Those experiences showed me how deeply our work shapes our sense of purpose—and now I help clients navigate change and growth so they can feel more fulfilled and aligned in what they do