The Burden of Executive Invisibility
The Burden of Executive Invisibility
How invisible are you as an executive leader? It is a question we were recently confronted with at VIM Executive Coaching.
The executive, a pleasant person in her mid-forties, works for a large marketing communications organization that was recently acquired by a foreign entity. She told us that her position was secure and that she was in no danger of being “made redundant,” however despite her strong work ethic and favorable reviews she was going nowhere.
Naturally, we are always sensitive to matters of gender discrimination and so that inquiry on our part was very quickly established.
“As a matter of fact,” she confided, “the company is dominated by women in executive positions. It is known for its fairness and impartiality. It’s not that.”
Then Who are You?
As we began our journey into unlocking why she felt her career was going nowhere, she conveyed a very telling thought that began to help us understand who she was and how perceptions of her were shaped.
“I’m everybody’s friend. I am however I need to be. I always have a smile and a pleasant joke. I never want to be known as the person who makes waves or has a complaint.”
Then, we asked, who are you? What do you stand for and how are you known?
She shrugged. Her thoughts on that matter turned into questions rather than answers.
“I’m the good guy?”
“I’m the one who never says anything bad?”
“I’m the one who goes along with the flow, no matter the flow?”
Oh, you’re invisible.
“Yes.”
And we well understand. In an effort to keep our good jobs, or to never be seen as a bad person or to be a “good citizen,” it is often easier to not complain, not suggest, not add or subtract. It is a strategy, certainly. The problem with that strategy is that the executive often turns into “that potted plant” in the hallway. It is always there, always reliable, and just needs a little watering to keep it happy. Then, when a few leaves wither, and the plant watering company takes it away, it may be weeks – or even months – before someone asks, “Hey, wasn’t there a plant against that wall?”
The Truth about Invisibility
There is a terrible price to be paid for being invisible. The price is giving up authenticity. In no way, does VIM Executive Coaching suggest that the cure for invisibility is to be contentious or to be sugary-sweet to the point of indigestion. The invisible executive becomes visible when she or he learns to be authentic, mindful and compassionate. In other words, to become real.
Are there risks to becoming authentic? Not as many as the invisible executive might perceive. In fact, we would suggest that in becoming more authentic, the one person we might surprise the most is ourselves.
The authentic executive is mindful, and in that mindfulness, we stand for something. We have opinions, we respond to specific situations rather than to react to all of them in different ways, we are more compassionate and indeed, more ethical.
Invisibility eventually leads to regret: “I should have said something,” “I should have offered my creative input,” “I should have said something about that design flaw.”
It is a burden to be everyone’s best friend, to say nothing, to always go with the flow. To be seen often requires the executive to be “material,” to be a part of an organization and not distant from it. Organizations cannot thrive on invisibility, especially in today’s business climate.
Your organization needs you, and your authentic, mindful self can be that person to take them to the next level. We can help you get to that place.
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