In a recent LinkedIn post, Ehsan Ali Au shares a personal anecdote and key insights into the often-unseen dynamics of senior career progression, arguing that visibility and perception can be more critical than sheer performance.
Detailing a pivotal moment in his career, Ehsan Ali Au recounts a situation where he was overlooked for a promotion despite building a significant portfolio from scratch. He contrasts his achievement of growing a $0 portfolio to $17M in two years with a colleague who grew an inherited $28M portfolio to $38M. Despite the impressive growth he achieved, the promotion ultimately went to his colleague.
“My name wasn’t even discussed. That hurt.”.
This experience led Ehsan Ali Au to re-evaluate his understanding of career advancement, moving beyond the simple equation of hard work equaling recognition.
The Illusion of ‘Doing the Work’
Ehsan Ali Au highlights a common misconception among professionals, particularly those early in their senior careers, about how promotions are decided at higher levels. He likens his initial expectation to the straightforward system of academic schooling, where completing tasks directly leads to rewards.
“Because in my head, promotions worked like school: Do the work. Get the marks. Move up.”
However, as he elaborates, this model doesn’t accurately reflect the complexities of senior-level career progression. The post emphasizes that in established professional environments, especially in fields like IT, simply excelling at one’s core responsibilities may not be sufficient for advancement.
Visibility: The Deciding Factor
The core of Ehsan Ali Au’s message revolves around the concept of visibility. He posits that his colleague’s success in securing the promotion was not due to superior performance but rather to greater visibility within the organization.
According to Ehsan Ali Au, “He was more visible. He was known in the right rooms. Trusted by the right people. Easier to back.” This highlights a critical distinction: while performance builds a foundation, visibility ensures that performance is recognized and valued by decision-makers.
He argues that in senior roles, the ability to be seen and understood by influential stakeholders is paramount. This includes being present in strategic discussions, building trust with key leaders, and ensuring that one’s contributions are readily apparent and easily quantifiable.
The Power of Perception and Proximity
Ehsan Ali Au further dissects the elements that contribute to visibility, identifying perception and proximity as crucial allies. Perception, in this context, refers to how one’s value and contributions are viewed by others, while proximity relates to being physically or strategically close to those who make promotion decisions.
“At that level, performance isn’t enough. Visibility matters. Perception matters. Proximity matters.”
He stresses that even significant achievements, like building a substantial portfolio from scratch, can be overshadowed if the value isn’t effectively communicated or perceived by the relevant parties. This can lead to a situation where an individual with less demonstrable output but higher visibility secures opportunities.
Packaging Value for Impact
The post concludes with a hopeful and actionable takeaway. Ehsan Ali Au shares that after understanding and internalizing this lesson, he learned to effectively package his value without resorting to exaggeration or dishonesty. This shift in approach, he notes, opened doors to high-level opportunities.
“Once I learned how to package my value, without lying, exaggerating, or pretending, I started getting invited into $400K+ rooms,” he states, indicating a tangible outcome from mastering the art of self-promotion and strategic visibility.
He extends this advice to other senior IT professionals who feel overlooked despite years of experience, suggesting that a focus on strategic visibility and effective communication of one’s contributions can be the key to unlocking further career growth. Ehsan Ali Au offers further guidance through limited sessions, inviting those who resonate with his experience to connect with him.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Ehsan Ali Au on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on June 11, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →