In this Career Q&A episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher respond to real questions from listeners and Lead to Soar Network members about career progression, visibility, networking, and leadership judgement.
Rather than defaulting to generic advice about “confidence” or personal branding, this conversation focuses on how careers actually move inside organisations. Michelle and Mel talk about positioning, evidence, reputation, and strategic relationships, and why being good at your job is necessary but rarely sufficient for progression.
The discussion cuts through common myths about self-promotion and networking and reframes both as leadership skills rooted in contribution, credibility, and clarity about outcomes.
In this episode, they cover:
What effective self-promotion really looks like in professional settings
How to build visibility through contribution rather than performance
Why networking is a leadership discipline, not a personality trait
How leaders assess credibility and readiness for progression
What to focus on when job searching or repositioning your career
Why mastering your current role is the foundation for strategic moves
This episode is particularly relevant for women who are doing great work but feel overlooked, under-recognised, or unsure how to shift perceptions without playing games that don’t align with their values.
If this episode was useful, there are three simple ways to go further:
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