Picture this: You’re in a room full of decision-makers. Someone turns to you and asks, “So, what do you do?” Do you stumble through “I’m just…” or do you own the moment? That split second, that single introduction, can open doors or close them. Yet I’ve watched brilliant executives, founders with transformative ideas, and leaders who’ve moved mountains shrink into shadows when it’s their turn to speak. They apologise for taking up space. They downplay decades of expertise. They whisper their worth when they should be commanding the room.
Far too many accomplished professionals and entrepreneurs undersell themselves. They work tirelessly, achieve remarkable results, yet shrink when it’s time to speak about their contributions. They apologise for their excellence. They soften their story. They whisper when they should communicate with clarity.
Here’s the truth: when you undersell yourself, the world undervalues you. Over the years, I’ve worked with executives, founders, and leaders across industries. I’ve witnessed individuals with extraordinary skill and integrity lose opportunities—not because they lacked qualification, but because they struggled to communicate their worth. In a world overflowing with voices, visibility isn’t vanity; it’s value. If people don’t understand what you stand for, they cannot stand with you.
Your Brand, Your Business, Your Presence
Here’s what I’ve learned coaching leaders at the highest levels:
Your brand is your first sale. Your business is your next sale. Your presence is what makes people buy into both. Your brand is how people experience you before you speak. The energy you carry into a room, the confidence in your introduction, the clarity of your message. Your business, whether that’s your company, department, or career, is what you deliver once that first impression opens the door. Your presence, that intangible blend of composure, conviction, and authenticity, sustains trust long after the meeting ends.
When these three elements align, influence follows naturally. When they’re misaligned, even the most talented professionals struggle to gain traction. Think about the last time you encountered someone whose presence commanded attention. They didn’t oversell. They simply owned their narrative. That’s the difference between self-promotion and self-possession.
Cultural conditioning plays a significant role here. Many of us were taught that humility means silence about our strengths. Particularly across Africa, we’re raised to let our work speak for us. But in today’s competitive landscape, your work can only speak if you amplify its voice. Too often, modesty becomes a mask for insecurity. We say “I’m just managing” when we’re excelling. We say “it’s nothing” when it’s extraordinary. We believe this projects humility when, in truth, it projects uncertainty. The uncomfortable reality: if you don’t confidently own your narrative, someone less qualified will define it for you. Leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals—your silence isn’t strength. It’s missed opportunity.
I understand this personally. When I began speaking and consulting, I found it difficult to discuss my work without feeling like I was overselling. I would minimize my accomplishments or hide behind generic titles, fearing I’d seem self-centered. Then I realized something transformative: communicating your value isn’t arrogance; it’s stewardship. When you’ve been given skills, wisdom, and experience, sharing them with clarity isn’t bragging; it’s service.
You’re not merely selling a product or pitching a résumé. What you’re doing is offering transformation. If you don’t express the depth of what you bring, you limit the impact you were meant to have. As leaders, we must reframe visibility as responsibility. The more clearly you articulate your value, the easier it becomes for others to connect with it, benefit from it, and be inspired by it.
Presence is often misunderstood. People think it’s about volume or charisma, but presence is quiet power and the energy of self-assurance that comes from knowing who you are and what you offer. Research from Harvard Business Review reveals that people decide whether to trust you within seconds of an encounter. They assess two dimensions: competence and warmth. In essence, they ask: “Can I rely on you?” and “Do you care?” When you communicate your value with confidence and compassion, you project both. You become memorable not because you’re the loudest voice in the room, but because you’re the most grounded. True presence isn’t performance, instead, it’s alignment. Your words, actions, and energy all tell the same story.
Four Steps to Articulate Your Value
Owning your narrative is a skill, and like all skills, it can be learned and refined. Here are four practical steps:
Clarify Your Core Message
Ask yourself,
What do I want to be known for?
Your message should be concise and compelling. Instead of saying “I’m a marketing manager,” say “I help brands turn customer insight into loyalty.” That’s a clear communication of the value you offer.
Tell Stories, Not Statements
Facts inform, but stories transform. Share specific examples of impact: the problem you solved, the result you achieved, or the lesson you learnt. Stories make your expertise relatable and memorable.
Practise Confident Introductions
Rehearse how you introduce yourself in meetings, interviews, or networking spaces. Replace “I’m just…” with “I specialise in…” or “I work on projects that…” The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence.
Align Your Verbal and Non-Verbal Language
Your words matter, but so does your tone, posture, and eye contact. When your body language matches your message, authenticity flows naturally. People believe what you believe about yourself.
When you begin to actively own your narrative, two things happen: others start to see you differently, and more importantly, you start to see yourself with greater clarity. Clarity builds confidence. Confidence drives decisive action. And decisive action exponentially builds influence.
Think of global entrepreneurs like Mo Abudu or Strive Masiyiwa. They did not wait for permission to be seen. They intentionally shaped their narrative, shared their story with conviction, and converted personal belief into a collective movement. Their visibility became a platform upon which others could rise. In every sphere, be it corporate, entrepreneurial, or creative, people respond to certainty. If you project absolute belief in your message, others will follow suit.
The world doesn’t need more titles. It needs more truth and authenticity. So step up. Speak up. Own your narrative. Because if you don’t, someone else will.
Are you ready for TRANSFORMATION?
Dzigbordi Kwaku-Dosoo is a Ghanaian multi-disciplinary Business Leader, Entrepreneur, Consultant, Certified High-Performance Coach (CHPC™) and global Speaker. She is the Founder and CEO of The DCG Consulting Group. She is the trusted coach to top executives, managers, teams, and entrepreneurs helping them reach their highest level of performance through the integration of technical skills with human (soft)skills for personal development and professional growth, a recipe for success she has perfected over the years. Her coaching, seminars and training has helped many organizations and individuals to transform their image and impact, elevate their engagement and establish networks leading to improved and inspired teams, growth and productivity.