Episodes

8 hours ago
8 hours ago
164. Consistent Visibility Creates Intentional Impact
In today’s episode, we explore the critical role that visibility plays in achieving career success. We debunk the common myth that hard work alone leads to recognition, and we emphasize the importance of being intentional about self-promotion. The discussion offers insights on how to recognize and effectively communicate your achievements, create a purposeful professional identity, and take concrete steps to increase your visibility in the workplace. As you listen, I encourage you to reflect on your contributions and to take a proactive approach in showcasing your value to others.
In this episode:
Visibility is essential for career success, not just hard work.
Many professionals hold onto the myth that great work alone will lead to recognition.
It's important to communicate your achievements to be seen and considered for opportunities.
Comparing yourself to others can hinder your visibility and confidence.
Being intentional about your visibility can create a positive perception of you.
Recognizing even small achievements can help in self-promotion.
You need to capture your wins for performance reviews and discussions with managers.
People may not notice your contributions unless you highlight them.
Creating an intentional identity helps shape how others perceive you.
Consistency in visibility efforts is key to long-term success.
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Apr 17, 2025
163. Leading with Intention
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
163. Leading with Intention
Today’s episode focuses on the importance of leading by intention. Sue shares her personal experiences of setting intentions for travel and life experiences, emphasizing the need for clarity and focus in achieving goals. Explores the pros and cons of being intentional, the balance between planning and flexibility, and the significance of small actions in enhancing visibility and achieving success. The conversation encourages listeners to reflect on their intentions and take inspired actions towards their goals.
In this episode:
Set intentions to create meaningful experiences.
Traveling can be a way to fulfill intentions.
Intentions bring clarity and direction to your life.
Focus on two to three goals for better results.
Being intentional helps prioritize time and energy.
Confidence comes from knowing your purpose.
Align actions with your values for better outcomes.
Be open to change and adapt as needed.
Small actions can lead to significant visibility.
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Apr 10, 2025
162. How Can You Collaborate in a Bigger Way?
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
162. How Can You Collaborate in a Bigger Way?
This episode is focused on the importance of collaboration in professional settings. Leaders need to show up intentionally in collaborative environments, leverage their unique experiences and perspectives. Seek out opportunities for collaboration, whether through special projects, mentoring, or networking, and highlights the value of building relationships to enhance problem-solving and innovation.
In this episode:
Collaboration is essential for effective teamwork.
Show up with intention in collaborative settings.
Your unique experiences can add value to a group.
Learning from mistakes is crucial for growth.
Networking opens doors to new opportunities.
Engage in conversations to build relationships.
Collaboration can lead to innovative solutions.
Don't shy away from sharing your experiences.
Seek out mentoring and employee resource groups.
Take initiative in problem-solving with others.
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Apr 03, 2025
161. What’s Preventing You from Being Visible?
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
161. What’s Preventing You from Being Visible?
This episode discusses the importance of visibility in the workplace and how time management plays a crucial role in achieving it. You need to evaluate the value and impact of meetings, prioritize high-value tasks, and create a visibility action plan to ensure that time is spent effectively. By questioning how time is allocated and focusing on strategic thinking, individuals can enhance their visibility and make a significant impact in their organizations.
In this episode:
Question the necessity of recurring meetings.
Evaluate if your involvement in tasks adds value.
Identify high-value tasks versus low-value tasks.
Use a currency model to assess time allocation.
Delegate lower-value tasks to team members.
Create space in your calendar for strategic thinking.
Understand the importance of visibility in your role.
Seek feedback on your impact and value.
Be proactive in managing your time and commitments.
Implement a visibility action plan to enhance your presence.
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Mar 27, 2025
160. Becoming the Warrior (with Jenn Donahue)
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
160. Becoming the Warrior (with Jenn Donahue)
Jenn Donahue PhD, was a US Navy Captain and Commodore for an 1,800-personnel Regiment. She is also a civil engineer who works on large-scale, high profile geotechnical projects. Over her military career, Jenn has built a bridge across the Euphrates River in the midst of the Iraq war, commanded an 800-personnel Battalion in Afghanistan, and constructed combat outposts in the middle of deserts filled with insurgents. Jenn has designed the seismic plans for a bridge over the Panama Canal and built roads by drilling and blasting in Ketchikan. She is President of JL Donahue Engineering and Dare to Rise. Her forthcoming book is titled Becoming the Warrior.
In this episode:
Jenn shared about her career as an engineer and then going into the Navy for 27 years, both active and reserve. She was only the 3rd woman to lead a battalion at that time.
She shared what it has been like to be in male dominated fields for her career where there were always a small percentage of women vs men.
How she honed her leadership style which was non-traditional compared to her peers.
Discussed why she wanted to write her upcoming book, Becoming the Warrior.
The book is for people with big goals that they want to achieve, but they have doubts as to whether they are good enough to complete them.
She shared one of the most challenging life or death decisions she had to make.
Walked through the Warrior Framework and some of the other tools from her book.
Information on Jenn:
JennDonahue.com
Jenn Donahue on LinkedIn (in/jenndonahue-phd-pe)
The Book that Janet Recommends:
The Visibility Factor by Susan M Barber
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Mar 20, 2025
159. Are You Underselling Yourself and the Work That You Do?
Thursday Mar 20, 2025
Thursday Mar 20, 2025
159. Are You Underselling Yourself and the Work That You Do?
This episode discusses the importance of recognizing self-worth in the business world. Emphasizes that understanding one's value is essential for personal and professional growth. The conversation covers signs of underselling oneself, strategies to embrace and communicate value, and the significance of visibility in career advancement. Take actionable steps to build confidence and showcase their achievements, ultimately leading to greater recognition and opportunities.
In this episode:
Recognizing your self-worth is essential for growth.
Your unique skills and contributions have value.
Acceptance of self influences how others perceive you.
Underselling yourself can lead to missed opportunities.
Keeping a success journal can help track achievements.
Feedback from trusted colleagues can provide perspective.
Building confidence requires taking small actions.
Communicating your value is crucial for career advancement.
Networking can open doors to new opportunities.
The journey to recognizing your value is ongoing.
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Mar 13, 2025
158. Choosing Likeability Over Respect
Thursday Mar 13, 2025
Thursday Mar 13, 2025
158. Choosing Likeability Over Respect
This episode discusses the critical balance leaders must strike between being liked and being respected. Explore the signs that indicate a leader may be prioritizing likeability over respect, such as avoiding tough conversations and withholding constructive criticism. The conversation delves into the challenges leaders face in decision-making and the importance of empowering team members. Sue emphasizes the need for consistent leadership and the impact of short-term harmony on long-term success. The episode concludes with actionable insights for leaders to reflect on their behaviors and create a visibility action plan for improvement.
In this episode:
Leaders often struggle with the balance of being liked versus respected.
Choosing likeability can lead to avoiding tough conversations.
It's essential to provide constructive feedback for team growth.
Leaders must make difficult decisions for the benefit of the team.
Promoting unprepared employees can harm team dynamics.
Withholding criticism does not help team members improve.
Praising subpar work can mislead employees about expectations.
Inconsistent leadership sends mixed messages to the team.
Empowering team members is crucial for their development.
Leaders should reflect on their behaviors and make necessary changes.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
The Visibility Factor Podcast Episode 90 - Should Leaders Be Liked or Respected
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Mar 06, 2025
157. The Power of Leading Conversations
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
157. The Power of Leading Conversations
Today’s episode discusses the significance of leading conversations effectively and focusing on the importance of overcoming internal dialogue, being intentional in communication, and fostering collaboration to showcase value. The episode also highlights the need for strategic thinking in every interaction, whether in person or through written communication, to enhance visibility and leadership presence.
In this episode:
Leading conversations is crucial for demonstrating value.
Internal dialogue can hinder effective communication.
Planning conversations can enhance clarity and impact.
Collaboration fosters equality in professional relationships.
Emails should reflect intention and invite feedback.
Your boss should be viewed as a client for better engagement.
Every interaction is an opportunity for visibility.
Strategic communication can position you as a leader.
It's about leveraging existing work, not doing more.
Shifting focus to value addition can transform conversations.
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Feb 27, 2025
156. It’s Time to Empower Your Team
Thursday Feb 27, 2025
Thursday Feb 27, 2025
156. It’s Time to Empower Your Team
Today’s episode is focused on the four roles that you may see someone leverage in an organization. These are not career roles, but instead the roles that you choose from in various career situations with your team or other people in your organization. The four roles are mentoring, coaching, teaching and leading. Each of these roles plays a crucial part in your team's development. As a leader, you may find yourself switching between these roles depending on the situation and the needs of your team. The key is to adapt to what your team members need so you can motivate them to grow and develop.
In this episode:
Definitions of the four roles that leaders can leverage.
Depending on the level of experience and maturity of the employee, leaders will need to adapt to them and choose which role to use.
Leaders need to switch to different roles by situation and your team.
A client experience with his team and goal he has to shift more towards coaching.
What are the nuances between the four different roles?
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

Thursday Feb 20, 2025
155. Key Skills for Leaders
Thursday Feb 20, 2025
Thursday Feb 20, 2025
155. Key Skills for Leaders
Today’s episode is exploring the key skills that leaders need to achieve success. I teach a class called Leadership Foundations and the intent is to open up the minds of the class to what leadership really is and what you need to be good at it. Some people have a gift of being “born leaders” but not everyone has that and it requires practice. Every experience that you have as a leader helps you gain confidence for the next situation you encounter.
In this episode:
What is the difference between leadership and management?
Definition of leadership.
Quotes from some famous leaders.
What are some of the key skills that leaders need to have?
Why are these skills needed?
Examples of guiding principles that leaders should live by.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
"20 Guiding Principles More Business Leaders Should Live By" by Forbes
Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast
Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book.
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, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too!
Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast!

It’s Time to Raise Your Visibility:
Welcome to the Visibility Factor podcast with Susan M. Barber – a show where business leaders and anyone seeking ways to raise their visibility can come to learn how to take action in their own authentic way. It’s time to raise your visibility, amplify your voice and be the confident leader you were meant to be.
Each week, author, former fortune 500 IT Director turned executive coach, Susan M. Barber will bring you inspiring guests, coaching, tips and tools to empower you to take action so that you can elevate your career and gain new opportunities.
Topics about visibility, authenticity, confidence, leadership, impostor syndrome, and career transition will be discussed each week with guests who are amazing leaders and are doing great things in the world. There are so many possibilities to do more than you think you can, so trust yourself and let’s take this visibility journey together!