If you've ever tweaked a post for an hour and still not pressed publish, you're in good company. Many women in our community want to be seen, but also feel exposed in the moment of showing up.

We know that visibility brings results, yet it can feel like standing under a very bright light.

In our expert session this month, executive coach and podcast host Mandy Lehto gave us a practical guide to soften the glare and build a visibility habit you can live with.

Start with the inner work

Most of us jump straight to tactics. Which platform. How often. What to post. And while that is essential, it’s also stage two.

Stage one is the inner work. Fear of judgment. Comparison spirals and a nervous system that goes into full alert.

When you notice these, nothing has gone wrong. Your brain is doing its job, which is to keep you safe.

A simple practice in these moments really helps.

❝ ❞ Name the critical voice to create some distance. Mandy calls hers Judgy Janet. When it pops up, hand on heart and say, thank you for trying to keep me safe. I have got this. It sounds small, and it is powerful.

Build cringe resilience

Visibility will feel awkward at first. Think micro experiments. One story. One poll. One live with a friend. Each small act teaches your brain that you are safe. This is how confidence grows. Not before action, but after it.

If you feel wobbly later, that is a visibility hangover. Which is totally normal. Come back to your intention. Did this help one person. If yes, it was worth it.

Choose your focus on purpose

When a post lands quietly, it is easy to spiral. But numbers are not the full story. Image those six likes are six real people on a train telling you your work helped. How would you feel receiving that praise? At every step you have a choice. You can feed frustration, or you can collect data and move forward.

Find your signature tone

Your service is not the only thing people buy. They buy the experience of you. Mandy suggests picturing two trays. On one, your credibility. On the other, your real you-ness. Quirks, warmth, edge, softness. Now think about blending them. When you bring more of you, you become unignorable. You also repel the wrong clients, which is a quiet form of self care. It will also get you speaking to more of the right people.

📝 Try this journaling prompt to sharpen up who you are for.

    Who am I not for?

Use support and rhythm

A visibility buddy makes showing up easier. Go live together. Interview each other. Swap questions so you don’t feel like you’re speaking into the void. Then create a tiny rhythm you can keep. For example: one helpful post each week, one conversation, one invitation to work with you. Keep it human and simple.

Start before you feel ready

In this session someone asked how to start when you have an idea but no business yet. Mandy suggested to test in public. Ask questions. Share early thinking. Notice what sparks conversation. Talk to people already doing something similar. Begin with beginners. You will learn more in a month of tiny tests than a season of planning.

A kinder definition of success

Visibility is not a performance. It is a practice. It’s you showing up with purpose, even a small p purpose, to help real people and enjoy the work more. Some days you will feel brave. Some days you will wobble. Both count.

Try This 👇

•  Name your inner critic and write a one sentence response you will use
•  Do one micro experiment to help one person
•  Write two trays for your signature tone and choose a blend for your next post
•  Ask a friend to be your visibility buddy and book a 20 minute practice session

Good luck! We believe in you!

Something we remind ourselves a lot of in the group is to put wisdom into practice. Nothing beats action. We can’t evolve without trying, being, doing, taking action. That goes for inner work too.

✨  ACCESS OUR ASK THE EXPERT SESSIONS LIVE

This Ask The Expert session is part of The Women Entrepreneurs Group membership.

Join us for live conversations on Zoom every month that help you run your business with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Learn more here www.thewomenentrepreneursgroup.com