Sharing your value is part of the job - even if it’s the last thing on your mind!

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at Irwin Mitchell's Senior HR Roundtable.

It was a confidential space for senior HR leaders to step away from the day-to-day and have honest conversations about the complexities of leading people in an increasingly fast-paced world.

My session focused on one thing:

How HR Teams and their leaders ensure it's heard as a strategic partner, able to influence positive change across the organisation.

The challenge isn't capability.

It's communication.

We become so immersed in the doing that we forget that sharing the value of our work is part of the work.

Our to-do lists become so full that communicating our contribution slips to the bottom of the priority list. We assume people will see the impact. We hope they'll connect the dots between what we're doing and the difference it's making.

Too often, they don't.

When you're responsible for revenue, success can be relatively easy to point to.

A sale.

A contract.

A new client.

But what about work whose value lies in what doesn't happen?

HR is full of examples.

A manager who handles a difficult conversation well because they were trained.

A talented employee who stays because they feel supported.

A conflict that's resolved before it becomes a grievance.

A stronger culture that quietly improves performance across the business.

The impact is significant, but it's often invisible.

That's why we have to help people understand the connection between our activity and our impact.

Whether you work in HR, finance, operations, marketing or run your own business, there are people whose support, understanding and advocacy help your work go further.

When they understand the value you create, decisions happen more quickly. Good ideas gain traction. Change becomes easier to influence.

And that communication goes far beyond a weekly update or quarterly report.

It's in the words you choose.

The stories you tell.

The confidence in your voice.

Your body language.

Your presence.

These aren't soft skills.

They're strategic skills.

Because no matter how good your work is, people can only champion value they understand.

So this week, don't just ask yourself what you've achieved.

Ask yourself:

Have I helped the right people understand why it matters?

PS. Thank you to Jenny Arrowsmith and the team for having me along!