Personal visibility is critical for success no matter what
business arena you work in. Many women make the mistake that if
they work hard and do good work, that they will be recognized for
their efforts. This is just not so.

Take a look around you at the people who seem to buzz with
success, no matter what they do or what they touch. These are the
people you read about in the paper and who seem to be at all of
the right networking events and know all of the right people.
They are also the people who are in demand to speak at events and
whose articles appear in your local paper.

What do these men or women know that you don't? They have
mastered the art of personal visibility. I spoke with a woman
that fits this description shortly after she had signed on to do
her own radio show with a local station. I asked her what her
secret of success was in terms of personal visibility. The main
thing she told me was that you can't sit back and wait for
visibility. Instead, you have to go out and find it.

Here are some practical tips you can use:

1. Send News Releases:
Send out a news release for anything noteworthy that you might
do. Signed a new client? Appointed to a new board position?
Remember, local papers are often searching for stories with a
local angle. Be sure to include a photo.

2. Write Articles or Editorials:
This is a great way to become recognized as an expert in your
field. Remember to develop relationships with your local editors.
Contact them with your ideas and help them when they are looking
for resources.

3. Speak at local events:
Many chambers of commerce, professional organizations and other
non-profit organizations look for local speakers knowledgeable on
a range of topics. Find the organizations that might be
interested in your area of expertise and get on a panel or
facilitate a program for them.

4. Allow reporters to interview and quote you:
Reporters are always looking for third parties to corroborate or
refute information that they include in their stories. Many women
do not like to be quoted because they fear that their words will
be misconstrued or misrepresented. Women need to get over this
fear and make themselves more available to be quoted in public.
This serves to position you as an expert in your field and gets
your name into the public eye.

5. Volunteer for visible projects or committees:
This can be either internally at your organization or externally
within your community. Then use this opportunity to advantage by
using tips 1-4 above.

6. Get nominated for an award or recognition list:
Typically women sit back and wait to be nominated by someone.
However, if there is an award or recognition that you think you
are worthy of, let someone know that you are deserving and ask if
they would be willing to nominate you. Even if you don't win, you
will still receive visibility.

7. Teach a college class or seminar:
This allows you to get out in front of your peers or a target
audience that you are interested in getting exposure from. This
not only gives you visibility but may also provide you with your
next business referral or job opportunity.

These are just a few ideas. If you have other ideas, we'd love to
hear about them. Email them to us at mailto:info@redladder.com and 
we will share them in next month's newsletter.

In the meantime, remember, to get ahead in business you need to
take charge of your own visibility. For those that do, the
possibilities for success are endless. 

Regina Barr is a management consultant and speaker with a 
special passion for helping women achieve leadership success. 
Regina helps companies develop strategies to attract, develop 
and retain women leaders. Her consulting firm, Red Ladder, Inc., 
also helps organizations and their leaders develop their full 
potential through strategic project management and coaching. 
For more information visit:  http://www.RedLadder.com  or 
http://www.RedLadder.blogs.com.