9 Low-Lift Ways to Stay Top of Mind (and Unforgettable) at Work
The difference between being good at your job and being remembered for it often comes down to knowing *when* to speak up
Welcome to Reframed, where high-achieving professionals come to rethink their careers. Because doing things the “right” way only works if it’s actually right for you.
I'm Ashley Rudolph—a former tech executive turned coach for leaders and next-gen execs in the creative, tech, and lifestyle industries.
I’m feeling chatty this week! It turns out I have things to say. I decided that I want to linger a bit on the topic of self-promotion. Enjoy!
INTRO: STORY TIME
I talk a lot about career strategy on here, particularly about how the right strategy is pivotal in helping you make the right moves professionally. And a major part of being good at strategy is getting your timing right.
It takes me back to the moments where timing made all the difference for me. Like when maintaining a relationship with an old coworker led to an unexpected opportunity. Or when advocating for myself after a big win unlocked a promotion. Or even Colleen’s story from last week’s post, where putting in the work, keeping the right people informed, and speaking up at the right time led to a raise.
The thread here is simple: when strategy meets timing, things tend to move.
A few weeks ago, a friend texted me about how to position herself after an acquisition (timing!). I was lying on my couch half-watching TV and passively scrolling the internet. Anything but “present”.
This text pulled me back into the moment. It made me think about when companies I worked at went through acquisitions. What worked well for me. What I wished I’d done differently. And maybe most importantly, what I learned from those experiences. I thought about how those decisions shaped my career.
We exchanged voice notes. She was torn about whether to speak up about where she saw herself post-acquisition or to wait and see? We unpacked it together. What she really needed was clarity about what she wanted, where she added value (aka her leverage!!), and what she was asking for. Once she had that, she made her move. Her boss is now actively advocating for her at a time where not everyone will have a role in the new org.
I truly believe that this is the type of thing that happens when you show up before you’re told to. Being strategic didn’t just help her stand out, it gave her something rare in uncertain times: a sense of certainty. And she earned it.
This exchange got me thinking about advocacy at work and that knowing “when” to do it, is as important as knowing how to do it. Think of it as the perfect companion to last week’s post.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT →
THE WHY: DIVING DEEPER ON THE IMPACT OF SELF-PROMOTION
The Connection Between Self-Promotion and Mental Health
If you want to talk about your work clearly, you have to talk to yourself differently first. Presenting your work with confidence takes a bit of positive self-talk. And I don’t mean affirmations in the mirror (unless that’s your thing 😉). I mean actually giving yourself credit for what you do. Lingering in the moment a bit. Practicing the habit of noticing your accomplishments and why they made you proud. Positive self-talk is a science-backed practice too, it’s linked to everything from reduced stress to improved performance to a more grounded mindset overall (source).
Talking about your work isn’t just outer work, it’s inner work. When you take the time to pause long enough to recognize your own impact, you lay the groundwork for others to remember it. See how that works?
It takes three simple steps:
Notice the win—before it disappears into your next to-do.
Capture the win—what did you do and why does it matter? Say it to yourself or a close friend first.
Share the win—an email, a Slack message, a mention in a meeting.
THE FRAMEWORK: DO THIS AND WIN
9 Strategic Times To Promote Your Work
If at any point while reading through the following list of recommendations you start thinking “this is too simple, there must be a catch”, you’re right. The catch is execution. The catch is confidence. The catch is pushing past the fear of being cringey, in order to give yourself your flowers. You’re doing incredible work and the people around you deserve to know it. Let’s get into it →
After receiving positive client feedback
It’s really easy to read a nice email and move on. It makes you feel good, but you’ve got 10 other things to do today, right? If you’re a high achiever, you might use the boost as motivation to get through the rest of your task list. But instead, try forwarding it to your manager with a quick note. This isn’t performative, it’s showing that you’re directly playing a hand in making your clients happy. Happy clients are a direct connection to the bottom line and to your company’s reputation.After closing a deal
Similar to the previous one, you may think about closing a deal as the last step. But if you’re interested in continuing to grow as a leader, this is an opportunity for storytelling. Try sharing a note with your manager and/or other members of the leadership team that includes what worked and any next steps. I’d also recommend acknowledging teammates who helped make it happen. Celebrating others is gracious and shows that you’re someone who’s clear on the value you bring and generous with crediting others for their contributions too.When your team has wins to celebrate
This one’s a personal favorite. When I led a global team, I curated a “weekly wins” thread. It was a ritual that I and the rest of the team looked forward to. We moved on from it in favor of a more scalable approach, but I loved it because it kept me and the leadership team looped in on what was working and it helped junior team members get the visibility they deserved.When you have a new idea worth exploring
You don’t need permission to think ahead. If you’re involved in execution, chances are you’re closer to the work (the real day to day) than your boss. This means there’s probably an opportunity for you to surface a solution to a problem that is aligned with company priorities and/or to spotlight something that’s going well and could be optimized or scaled. Even if it’s early, you’re showing initiative, not waiting to be told what problems to solve.
How to work with me
Want help making your next move more strategic?
This post was all about timing — and funny enough, the #1 thing I hear when Reframed readers reach out to me about coaching is: “I should’ve reached out sooner.”
So if that’s been on your mind, take this post as a sign. Now’s probably the right time to chat about coaching :)
After launching a new process
This is where some high performers drop the ball. You roll out a new process and then move on to the next thing. Doing this is a missed opportunity. The opportunity here is in circling back on progress post-launch to share what's working, what you’ve learned, and what’s next. That’s how leaders operate.After a great team bonding moment
If you hosted a dinner, game night, or offsite, share what happened and any relevant learnings. For off sites specifically, make a habit of sharing discussion highlights, what you noticed, and any outcomes or future focus areas as a result. Culture work is business work.Speak up in a meeting
This one seems obvious and that’s exactly why it’s not 😉. Speaking up is self-promotion. Think about the times you’ve been in a room and you had an idea but neglected to share it. Or if you’ve ever heard “we want to hear more from you!”. You don’t have to overthink it. When you share your ideas in a meeting or offer a fresh POV, you’re previewing what it’s like to work with you. Don’t wait to be called on.After influencing or making a key decision
Maybe you shifted the strategy for a new product, changed how your team operates, or protected the company’s reputation with one well-placed decision. These aren’t “just” wins, they’re executive-level thinking. And yet, they’re easy to gloss over in the rush to fix the next thing. Don’t. Take a beat. Write a short summary. Share it. Executives aren’t just expected to deliver results, they’re expected to connect the dots.
After a cross-functional win
Was another team impacted by something you built or improved? Send a thank you, highlight the outcome, and shout out your collaborators. This type of work may feel like 2nd nature to you but it’s not. Mobilizing cross-functional teams is a skill and if you’re doing it successfully, others should know it.
There you have it, 9 moments where you can plug your efforts tastefully and consistently. This helps decision makers keep you top of mind and ensure that you’re acknowledged for the work you do. As I mentioned earlier in the post, when strategy meets timing, things tend to move.
Be your own catalyst.
CLOSING THOUGHTS: THE WRAP UP
Your Challenge This Week
If I told you that you only needed to talk about your work ten times in order to land a promotion, a new job, or a raise…would you do it? If you said yes, start now.
This week pick one of the moments I mentioned above. Just one. And practice acknowledging your own win (positive self talk!!) and then sharing it.
If you want a little accountability, email me and tell me which one you’re trying. I’ll be cheering you on.
Writing this post made me realize I’m guilty of not always doing this stuff too. I rush. I move on. I miss the moment. Maybe I wrote this as a reminder, for both of us.
Good luck. See you on Thursday!
Ashley
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Reframed by Ashley R. is read in 45 countries and 41 U.S. states. My posts are screenshotted, forwarded, and quoted in team meetings. And if you’re curious, people at the companies below subscribe to Reframed. Join them.
This quote hit hard - “talking about your work isn’t just outer work, it’s inner work.” 🔥
In events, our work is behind the scenes (or invisible) and focused on creating memorable experiences for others. We don’t articulate our own impact or acknowledge it nearly enough. Claiming that space isn’t ego, it’s acknowledgment!
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing.