NotesInsights2 mins read463 words
Who Actually Knows What You Are Good At?
We spend enormous time becoming good at our work and surprisingly little thinking about who outside our immediate circle could explain what we do exceptionally well.
Virre Team · September 4, 2026
There is a question I wish more experienced professionals asked themselves because we spend enormous amounts of time becoming good at our work and surprisingly little time thinking about who actually understands what we are good at.
Your manager may know.
Your immediate team probably knows.
A few long-time colleagues may know.
But if you disappeared from your current company tomorrow, how many people outside that small circle could explain what you do exceptionally well and where your experience might be useful?
That question becomes increasingly important as careers become more senior.
01Good work is necessary, but memory is imperfect#
I used to believe that if the work was strong enough, people would remember it, although large organizations contain thousands of projects, people move companies and yesterday’s major initiative eventually becomes another line inside someone’s career history.
This means professional reputation needs some continuity.
Not self-promotion every day, but enough visibility that people understand how your skills and interests are evolving.
02Your old reputation may be limiting your new one#
Someone who knew me years ago may still think of me primarily through the role I had at that time, even though my work later expanded across data, digital, leadership and eventually entrepreneurship.
This happens to everyone.
The network remembers the version of us it experienced.
If you have changed functions, developed a new specialty, built a company or moved into leadership, some important people may genuinely have no idea.
People cannot advocate for a version of you they have never seen.
03Identify your reputation network#
I would ask which people have seen my best work directly, which people understand my leadership style, which people know the new direction I am moving toward and which people have enough credibility to explain my value to others.
Those people form a reputation network.
They are not necessarily your closest friends or the most senior people you know.
They are the people whose understanding of your work is both accurate and current.
04Give people evidence, not slogans#
If you want to be known as someone who understands AI strategy, healthcare commercialization, customer experience or transformation, the solution is not simply updating your headline.
Work on those problems, speak about them, write about what you learned, contribute to discussions and help people dealing with those issues.
Reputation becomes stronger when people can connect the label with evidence.
05Update relationships when your direction changes#
When you start exploring a new kind of role or building expertise in a different area, reconnect with people who matter and explain what you are working toward.
Virre’s Goal Mapping can help connect a career goal with people who have seen your work, while Timeline, Notes and relationship analysis provide the context needed to decide who genuinely understands your strengths and who may need an updated picture.
Career visibility is not making sure everyone knows your name; it is making sure the right people know what your name should be associated with.
You do not need everyone in your network to understand everything you can do.
You need enough people in enough relevant rooms to remember the right things about you when something interesting appears.
Virre your network before you need it.