Hi {{ Name | there }},
Before we get to our agenda today… I wanted to share some big news.
I’ll be on LinkedIn’s first Ask & Connect today — a live Q&A where I’ll dive into the real problems high-performers bring to me: how to get promoted, build influence, manage burnout, advocate for yourself, and navigate messy team dynamics.
We go live today at 8 am PT / 11 am ET. Come join us?
(Note: This event is for Premium Subscribers only).
Let’s dig in? 👇🏻
When I was a PM, my CEO once told me, “You’re incredibly reliable. Everyone knows they can count on you.”
He was complimenting me.
But it stung a little.
I didn’t want to be known for being “reliable”.
I was leading complex product launches, influencing cross-functional teams, driving strategy, and yet, “reliable” was the word that he chose for me.
I thought about it for days.
It hit me.… if I don’t define how people see me, they will define it for me.
So I decided to spend the next 6 months creating my brand at work.
It eventually led to two promotions within 2 years.
Here’s my framework:
#1 Choose 3 adjectives you want to be known for.
Ask yourself,
“When people talk about me in a room I’m not in, what do I want them to say?”
Think of adjectives that describe the impact you want to create, not just your personality.
Some examples: ‘strategic’ or ‘innovative’ or ‘collaborative’ or ‘influential’.
YOU choose it.
#2 Turn each word into a visible action
Your brand isn’t built through words. It’s built through consistent action.
So attach an everyday action to each adjective you’ve chosen.
Here’s what I did:
Strategic - I’ll ask one big-picture question in every meeting to ensure we’re aligned on the broader goal.
Innovative - In weekly meetings, propose one alternative approach (even if simple); Keep a running “experiments” list and test one small experiment per week.
Decisive - End discussions by summarizing next steps clearly; lead calls with a sole focus on driving an outcome.
Influential - Before presenting a decision, always pre-align 1–2 key stakeholders in private.
Repeat until people start using these words for you. That’s when you know it’s working. My CEO called me ‘strategic’ six months after I completed this exercise.
Your actions become your reputation.
You don’t have to fake confidence or “self-promote.”
You just have to show people what to remember you for.
Write down your 3 adjectives for yourself and one small action for each. ****Keep it somewhere you’ll see often - your desk, phone, or meeting notes.
It’ll take five minutes. But it’ll change how people see you for years. (Yes, years!)
Reply back and tell me the 3 words you’ve chosen for yourself.
I read every reply.
Cheers,
Shivani
Was this email forwarded to you?