Welcome back to the Look and Sound of Leadership, an ongoing series of executive

coaching tips designed to help you be perceived in the workplace the way you

want to be perceived.

I'm Tom Henschel, your executive coach, and today we're talking about becoming expert.

Riley said one day, I don't know how to voice my accomplishments.

Before our coaching had begun, Janice, Riley's boss, made it clear she supported Riley 110%.

Janice experienced Riley as honest, open, diligent, thorough, accurate, but she felt Riley needed a bigger presence.

Janice's goal for the coaching was that Riley become more visible.

At this stage of the coaching, Riley and I were discussing whether she could create a bigger

presence by changing how she talked about herself at work, and that's what had prompted her

I can't voice my accomplishments comment.

She went on, you know a moment I really hate.

These presentations to the board, I make them every month, the presentations themselves are fine. It's the moments before.

I get brought into the room when it's my turn, you know, but these are all day meetings.

Between presentations, they get up, they get a drink, they go pee, they

start talking with each other. I'm stuck twiddling my thumbs and no matter what I do, I feel like I'm

the kid who wandered in on the grown-ups.

What happens?

I asked.

Well, here's where I am a total nitwit when it comes to talking about myself.

You know, inevitably someone wanders over. They see me every month, but they don't really

know me. So the person says, remind me what you do exactly. Oh, that is the moment I hate.

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