The Visibility Factor

Hosted by Susan M. Barber

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224

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Jun 2026

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About the show

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.

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60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 22345 min

223. You Can't Be What You Don't See (with Amy Henningfield)

223. You Can't Be What You Don't See (with Amy Henningfield) In this inspiring episode of The Visibility Factor Podcast, Susan sits down with Amy Henningfield, Director of Workforce Development at Superior Construction, to discuss her remarkable career journey from single mother and entry-level clerk to influential leader in the construction industry. Amy shares how she unexpectedly found her passion in construction, the lessons she's learned navigating a traditionally male-dominated field, and why helping women become more visible and confident has become a central part of her mission. Together, Sue and Amy explore the importance of representation, mentorship, leadership development, and creating environments where women feel supported, empowered, and ready to grow. Key Takeaways How Amy transitioned from an entry-level role to Director of Workforce Development Why visibility matters, especially in male-dominated industries The role mentorship and sponsorship play in career growth How Superior Women in Construction (SWIC) was created and the impact it's making Why representation matters: "You can't be what you don't see" How organizations can better support women in leadership development The importance of creating safe environments for people to speak up and grow Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and impostor syndrome Why leaders should stop waiting until they feel "ready" How workforce development is shaping the future of the construction industry Book Recommendations from Amy Becoming by Michelle Obama and Let Them by Mel Robbins Connect with Amy Henningfield Amy Henningfield - LinkedIn https://www.amyhenningfield.com/ https://www.superiorconstruction.com/our-company/superior-women-in-construction-swic/ 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/

June 4, 2026Episode 22210 min

222. The Power of a Leadership Reset

222. The Power of a Leadership Reset What happens when a team loses momentum, motivation fades, or old ways of working no longer serve the business? In this episode, Sue shares two real-world coaching scenarios that highlight the importance of recognizing when a team needs a reset. Whether you're leading a team through a long-term initiative that's lost energy or navigating a leadership transition that requires new ways of working, a thoughtful reset can create clarity, trust, collaboration, and renewed commitment. Sue explores practical ways leaders can bring teams back together, reconnect people to purpose, and create an environment where trust, curiosity, and shared success can thrive. Episode Highlights Why team motivation often fades over time—and how leaders can restore it The critical role purpose and "why" play in sustaining engagement How leadership transitions create opportunities to redefine team culture Why breaking down silos leads to stronger collaboration and better decision-making The value of using Start, Stop, Continue conversations to reset team dynamics How vulnerability helps leaders build trust during periods of change Why great leaders operate in the "gray" instead of assuming they have all the answers How standing for each other's success creates stronger leadership teams Ways to recognize when your team is stuck and needs a reset conversation How team resets can become powerful visibility and leadership opportunities 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/

May 28, 2026Episode 22110 min

221. Leading Through Difficult Performance Conversations

221. Leading Through Difficult Performance Conversations In this episode of The Visibility Factor Podcast, Susan M. Barber shares real-world leadership scenarios she has been discussing with coaching clients as mid-year reviews approach. She breaks down how leaders can have more transparent, strategic, and growth-focused conversations with team members about promotion readiness, performance expectations, and development opportunities. Sue explains why time in role alone does not determine readiness for advancement and why consistency, demonstrated competencies, and visibility matter more than assumptions or tenure. She also discusses how leaders can support employees by clearly identifying gaps, creating development opportunities, and delivering honest feedback in a way that builds trust rather than discouragement. This episode is especially valuable for new leaders, people managers, and anyone navigating difficult performance conversations with their teams. Episode Highlights Why many employees mistakenly equate tenure with promotion readiness The importance of demonstrating competencies consistently How to remove subjectivity from performance conversations What leaders should do when previous managers created unrealistic expectations Ways to help employees gain visibility with senior leadership Why promoting someone too early can ultimately hurt their confidence and success How transparency strengthens trust and development Top of Form Bottom of Form 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/

May 21, 2026Episode 22044 min

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/

May 14, 2026Episode 21941 min

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/

May 7, 2026Episode 2189 min

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/

April 30, 2026Episode 21736 min

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 promoted Performance builds credibility—but visibility and communication create opportunity. If you don’t define your career, someone else will Leaders who don’t express what they want often get placed into paths they didn’t choose. Confidence shows up in subtle ways Language, posture, and presence all communicate how you see yourself—and others respond accordingly. Growth requires discomfort Whether it’s speaking up, challenging ideas, or taking on visibility opportunities—stretch is part of the process. Leadership is about impact, not activity It’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!

April 23, 2026Episode 21611 min

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!

April 16, 2026Episode 21510 min

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!

April 9, 2026Episode 2149 min

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!