The Visibility Factor

220. Breaking Free from the Habit of Solving Everyone Else’s Problems (with Leah Marone)

220. Breaking Free from the Habit of Solving Everyone Else’s Problems (with Leah Marone)
In this episode of The Visibility Factor Podcast, Susan M. Barber sits down with psychotherapist, speaker, and author Leah Marone to discuss the hidden cost of constantly helping, fixing, and rescuing everyone around us. Leah shares insights from her book, Serial Fixer: Break Free from the Habit of Solving Other People’s Problems, and explains how high achievers, leaders, parents, and compassionate professionals often become trapped in cycles of over-functioning, burnout, resentment, and emotional exhaustion.
Together, Susan and Leah unpack the difference between helping and fixing, why boundaries feel so difficult, and how many people unknowingly tie their self-worth to being needed. They also explore how emotional intelligence can sometimes lead us to overextend ourselves and why slowing down, becoming present, and asking better questions can transform our relationships and leadership.
 
Key Takeaways
The difference between helping and fixing - and why many leaders confuse the two
Why resentment is often a sign that boundaries are missing
The hidden connection between self-worth and being “needed”
How “serial fixing” shows up at work, at home, and in leadership
The three common serial fixer types
Why control can sometimes disguise itself as compassion
The importance of slowing down instead of reacting immediately
How toxic work environments can bait people into over-functioning
The power of asking: “Tell me more”
Why presence is one of the most overlooked forms of self-care
How internal “bodyguards” like the inner critic and inner pleaser try to keep us safe
 
Book Recommendation from Leah
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
 
Connect with Leah Marone
Leah Marone Website
Leah Marone on LinkedIn
 
Connect with Susan M. Barber
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another leader navigating change inside their organization.
You can also connect with Susan M. Barber for coaching, leadership development, speaking engagements, and visibility strategy work focused on helping leaders become more influential, trusted, and impactful inside organizations.
https://susanmbarber.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbarbercoaching/

219. Learning Cultures Create Better Business Outcomes (with Lori Benton)

219. Learning Cultures Create Better Business Outcomes (with Lori Benton)
 
In this episode of The Visibility Factor podcast, Susan sits down with Lori Benton, Senior Vice President of Learning, Culture & Engagement, leadership coach, and former Chief Academic Officer, for a powerful conversation about leadership development, culture strategy, coaching, and the human side of organizational growth.  Lori shares her unique career journey from chemistry teacher and educational leader into corporate leadership and explains how her background in education shaped her philosophy around learning, engagement, psychological safety, and leadership development. Together, Susan and Lori explore why culture and business strategy cannot be separated, how organizations can better support high-potential leaders, and why coaching should be viewed as growth, not punishment.
 
Key Topics Discussed
Why culture strategy and business strategy must align
The difference between training and true learning
Creating psychological safety for teams
Why organizations lose talent when they fail to invest in people
The role of coaching in leadership growth
Building collaborative cultures instead of competitive ones
Learning and culture are inseparable
Training is not the same as learning
Leadership growth starts with self-awareness
Visibility is about impact, not self-promotion
Coaching should be developmental, not punitive
Great leaders focus on people, not just performance
Book Recommendation: Together Is Better by Simon Sinek
Connect with Lori: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-benton-8047a22b8/
 
Connect with Susan M. Barber
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another leader navigating change inside their organization.
You can also connect with Susan M. Barber for coaching, leadership development, speaking engagements, and visibility strategy work focused on helping leaders become more influential, trusted, and impactful inside organizations.
https://susanmbarber.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbarbercoaching/

218. AI May Change Roles—But It Won’t Replace Leaders

218. AI May Change Roles—But It Won’t Replace Leaders
As organizations move faster to integrate AI into the workplace, many leaders are asking an important question: Will AI eventually replace leadership roles?
In this episode of The Visibility Factor Podcast, Susan M. Barber explores what AI may change inside organizations and what it cannot replace. Inspired by recent conversations and articles discussing companies like Meta and Block shifting away from traditional middle management structures toward AI-enabled operating models, Sue shares her perspective on what this means for leaders today.
While AI can automate tasks, increase speed, support analysis, and improve efficiency, leadership is fundamentally human work.
This episode explores:
Why leadership is more than productivity
The difference between task execution and decision-making
How visibility, influence, and clarity become even more important in AI-enabled organizations
Why trust, relationships, and communication still drive performance
What organizations risk overlooking when they focus only on efficiency
Why companies that outperform will invest in leadership capability, not just technology
The growing pressure on organizations to “do more with less”
Why engagement, not automation alone drives productivity
The role leaders play in navigating complexity and human dynamics
How AI may expose leadership gaps already present inside organizations
Why hierarchy may matter less in the future, but influence will matter more
AI may change how work gets done, but it does not replace the need for strong, visible, thoughtful leadership.
 
Related Articles and Research
https://susanmbarber.substack.com/p/the-illusion-of-productivity-in-the
 
Connect with Susan M. Barber
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another leader navigating change inside their organization.
You can also connect with Susan M. Barber for coaching, leadership development, speaking engagements, and visibility strategy work focused on helping leaders become more influential, trusted, and impactful inside organizations.
https://susanmbarber.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbarbercoaching/

217. Navigating Tech Careers as a Woman

217. Navigating Tech Careers as a Woman
In this episode, I sit down with Limor Bergman Gross, a former engineering leader turned coach, to unpack what really holds leaders back, especially in technical and male-dominated environments. Limor shares her journey from software engineer to director of engineering, and the pivotal moment that changed everything: a promotion that wasn’t aligned with what she actually wanted. That experience became the catalyst for a bigger realization, if you don’t advocate for your career, someone else will define it for you.
We explore the common pattern many high-performing leaders fall into: working hard, delivering results, and assuming that will be enough. But as Limor shares, visibility, influence, and intentional communication are what actually open doors to leadership. We also talk about the internal barriers like self-doubt, hesitation to speak up, fear of asking “the wrong question”and how those show up in subtle ways, from language to body positioning in meetings.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about doing more it's about thinking differently, communicating strategically, and making your impact visible. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or unsure how to take the next step in your career, this episode will give you both perspective and practical shifts you can start making immediately.
Key Takeaways
Hard work alone won’t get you promotedPerformance builds credibility—but visibility and communication create opportunity.
If you don’t define your career, someone else willLeaders who don’t express what they want often get placed into paths they didn’t choose.
Confidence shows up in subtle waysLanguage, posture, and presence all communicate how you see yourself—and others respond accordingly.
Growth requires discomfortWhether it’s speaking up, challenging ideas, or taking on visibility opportunities—stretch is part of the process.
Leadership is about impact, not activityIt’s not about what you do—it’s about how your work influences outcomes and how clearly others understand that.
 
The book that Limor recommends: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma
Limor Bergman Gross on LinkedIn
Limor Bergman Gross on Substack
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast!   
Check out my website to order my books and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book and Your Journey to Visibility Workbook.
As always, I encourage you to reach out! You can email me at hello@susanmbarber.com.
You can also find me on social media everywhere –Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course on The Visibility Factor Podcast! I look forward to connecting with you!    
If you liked The Visibility Factor Podcast, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Choose one episode or something that was shared that made a difference for you and put it into the review! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!     
 

216. The Career Shift Most High Performers Miss

216. The Career Shift Most High Performers Miss
Most high-performing leaders believe that doing great work will naturally lead to recognition and advancement. But the reality is performance alone isn’t enough. In this episode, we unpack a critical career shift that many capable leaders overlook: moving from execution to visibility, influence, and strategic impact.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right, but still not being seen as ready for the next level, this conversation will challenge how you’re thinking about your time, your communication, and how others experience your value.
You’ll hear a powerful distinction between telling and showing, and why simply sharing information isn’t the same as positioning yourself as a strategic leader. The key is not doing more, it’s being more intentional about how your work is seen, understood, and used.
This episode is your reminder that visibility isn’t about being louder, it’s about being clearer, more strategic, and more aligned with how leaders at the next level think and act. If you’re ready to be seen differently, this is where that shift begins.
 
Key Takeaways
Performance alone is only a small part of career advancement, visibility and perception matter more than most realize
Leaders at the next level don’t just share information, they translate it into insights, impact, and decisions
Over-focusing on execution keeps you positioned as a doer, not a strategic leader
“Telling” (listing tasks or updates) is not the same as “showing” (framing value and impact)
Your time should shift from doing everything to influencing, communicating, and building relationships
Delegation is not just about efficiency, it’s about creating space for leadership-level work
If people don’t see how you think, they can’t see you as ready for more
Every meeting is an opportunity to shape perception and demonstrate leadership
Career growth requires intentional visibility, not just consistent performance
You have more control than you think in how you are seen and positioned
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast!   
Check out my website to order my books and view the  videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book and Your Journey to Visibility Workbook.
As always, I encourage you to reach out! You can email me at hello@susanmbarber.com.
You can also find me on social media everywhere –Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course on The Visibility Factor Podcast! I look forward to connecting with you!    
If you liked The Visibility Factor Podcast, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Choose one episode or something that was shared that made a difference for you and put it into the review! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!     

215. The Moment You Realize You’re Playing Small

215. The Moment You Realize You’re Playing Small
Imposter syndrome doesn’t always look like fear, it often shows up in subtle, quiet ways that keep high-performing leaders from fully stepping into their impact. In this episode, we unpack how “playing small” becomes the hidden barrier to visibility, influence, and growth.
If you’ve ever held back your ideas, waited until something felt perfect, or downplayed your contributions, even while succeeding on paper, this conversation will challenge how you think about confidence and what actually needs to shift. This isn’t about becoming louder. It’s about building self-trust and learning to show up from what you already know and bring.
 
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why impostor syndrome often shows up as subtle invisibility instead of obvious fear
How high performers unknowingly hold themselves back, even while succeeding
The internal dialogue that keeps leaders from speaking up
The critical “moment of awareness” that changes everything
Why confidence doesn’t come from time or experience, but from action
The real root issue: lack of self-trust (not lack of capability)
Simple, low-risk ways to start showing up more powerfully today
How small moments of action build lasting confidence and visibility
 
Key Takeaways
You can be successful on the outside and still play small on the inside
Holding back your voice is often driven by perceived risk—not reality
Missed moments in meetings are missed opportunities for visibility
Confidence is built through evidence, not overthinking
Self-trust is the foundation of influence
The goal isn’t to say more, it’s to say what matters
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast!   
Check out my website to order my books and view the  videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book and Your Journey to Visibility Workbook.
As always, I encourage you to reach out! You can email me at hello@susanmbarber.com.
You can also find me on social media everywhere –Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course on The Visibility Factor Podcast! I look forward to connecting with you!    
If you liked The Visibility Factor Podcast, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Choose one episode or something that was shared that made a difference for you and put it into the review! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!     

214. The Introvert Advantage

214. The Introvert Advantage
 
In this episode, Sue speaks directly to introverted leaders, those thoughtful, high-performing individuals doing meaningful work but not always getting the recognition they deserve.
If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable promoting yourself, avoided speaking up in meetings, or believed your work should “speak for itself,” this conversation reframes visibility in a way that feels authentic, strategic, and aligned with who you are.
This episode introduces three powerful shifts that help you communicate your value more effectively without changing your personality or becoming someone you’re not.
 
In this episode:
The three shifts that introverts need to make
Stop underselling yourself—start translating your value
Visibility isn’t self-promotion—it’s strategic communication
Prepare before you need it
You don’t need to be louder to be more visible
Your value is already there—it just needs to be translated
Strategic communication creates influence, not volume
Preparation builds confidence faster than personality ever will
Introversion is not a limitation—it’s a leadership advantage
 
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast!   
Check out my website to order my books and view the  videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book and Your Journey to Visibility Workbook.
As always, I encourage you to reach out! You can email me at hello@susanmbarber.com.
You can also find me on social media everywhere –Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course on The Visibility Factor Podcast! I look forward to connecting with you!    
If you liked The Visibility Factor Podcast, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Choose one episode or something that was shared that made a difference for you and put it into the review! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!     
 

213. High Agency Humans: Owning Your Outcomes (with Vickie Lanthier)

213. High Agency Humans: Owning Your Outcomes (with Vickie Lanthier)
 
In this episode, I sit down with Vickie Lanthier, author of High Agency Human, to explore what it really means to navigate adversity, make courageous decisions, and intentionally shape your life and career. From a life-altering military accident to building a philosophy of resilience and preparedness, Vickie shares powerful insights on how your response—not your circumstances—determines your outcomes. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or like life is happening to you, this conversation will challenge how you think—and show you a more powerful path forward. Vickie Lanthier is a military veteran, registered nurse, and author of High Agency Human. She focuses on helping individuals build resilience, increase personal agency, and prepare for life’s uncertainties through practical, actionable strategies.
In this episode:
The defining moment that shaped Vickie’s approach to adversity
What “high agency” really means—and why it matters now more than ever
The difference between living reactively vs. leading your life intentionally
Why your responses, not your circumstances drive your outcomes
How to break out of the “cages” of comparison and compliance
The concept of radical reduction and why doing less creates more impact
How overconsumption (time, energy, information) is limiting your growth
Practical ways to reduce overwhelm and reclaim focus
The importance of buffers (financial, health, planning, skills) to prepare for uncertainty
Why preparation is one of the most underrated leadership advantages
 
The books that Vickie recommends are:  The Other Side of Change by Maya Shankar and Stimulated Mind by Dr Tommy Wood
Get the book: High Agency Human by Vickie Lanthier
Learn more: highagencyhuman.com
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast!   
Check out my website to order my books and view the  videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book and Your Journey to Visibility Workbook.
As always, I encourage you to reach out! You can email me at hello@susanmbarber.com.
You can also find me on social media everywhere –Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course on The Visibility Factor Podcast! I look forward to connecting with you!    
If you liked The Visibility Factor Podcast, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Choose one episode or something that was shared that made a difference for you and put it into the review! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!     
 

212. Achieve Your Goals Faster (with Brittany Canaski)

212. Achieve Your Goals Faster (with Brittany Canaski)
In this episode, Brittany Canaski shares insights on goal setting, overcoming burnout, and building confidence for women in corporate America. She is a highly rated leadership coach and trainer who empowers leaders with the skills and confidence they need to accelerate their goals and improve their performance. We discuss her frameworks and practical tips to enhance visibility, manage expectations, and achieve your goals effectively.
In this episode:
The Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship
Challenges in Goal Setting and Personal Development
Understanding Internal vs. External Motivations
Real-Life Examples of Goal Setting Success
The Evolution of Goal Setting
Understanding Performance Personas
Overcoming Motivation Challenges
Navigating Leadership as Women
The book that Brittany recommends is: Serial Fixer by Leah Marone
Website: https://www.hellovelocity.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-canaski/
Instagram: HelloVelocityCo
 
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast!   
Check out my website to order my books and view the  videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book and Your Journey to Visibility Workbook.
As always, I encourage you to reach out! You can email me at hello@susanmbarber.com.
You can also find me on social media everywhere –Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course on The Visibility Factor Podcast! I look forward to connecting with you!    
  If you liked The Visibility Factor Podcast, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Choose one episode or something that was shared that made a difference for you and put it into the review! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!     

211.The Visibility Gap: How High Performers Can Elevate Their Impact

211. The Visibility Gap: How High Performers Can Elevate Their Impact
This episode of The Visibility Factor podcast explores the crucial shift from doing the work to being known for the work, highlighting how high performers can elevate their visibility and influence within organizations. Learn practical strategies to move from execution to impact and unlock leadership potential.
In this episode:
The difference between doing the work and being known for the work
The concept of the visibility gap and how to bridge it
Shifting from task completion to strategic influence
How to communicate impact effectively
Developing a leadership mindset that commands visibility
Three shifts to make to help you move from being the person who is doing the work to being known for the work.
 
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast!   
Check out my website to order my books and view the  videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book and Your Journey to Visibility Workbook.
As always, I encourage you to reach out! You can email me at hello@susanmbarber.com.
You can also find me on social media everywhere –Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course on The Visibility Factor Podcast! I look forward to connecting with you!    
    
If you liked The Visibility Factor Podcast, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts! Choose one episode or something that was shared that made a difference for you and put it into the review! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!     
 
leadership, visibility, influence, career growth, professional development