The Real Secret to Influence at Work? Clearly Communicating What You Do

Spoiler Alert: Your Title Doesn't!

Feb 15, 2025

We put a lot of weight on job titles. But let’s be honest—titles rarely tell the full story.

They can be flashy, like Chief Idea Officer or Chief Digital Evangelist, designed to sound impressive. Some companies—Google, Coca-Cola, TikTok, EY, Deloitte, and SAP—even have executive-level roles dedicated to employee happiness. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)

Meanwhile, other professionals carry titles like Coordinator, Developer, or Manager, even when their actual responsibilities far outweigh the name on paper.

And then there are industries where everyone is a VP. So what does that title really mean anymore?

But here’s the real challenge: titles don’t communicate your value—YOU do. And if people don’t clearly understand what you do, they won’t fully trust you to do it.

The Problem with Titles

Titles should communicate your value. But most of the time, they don’t. And even when your title isn’t the problem, your role might be so technical or specialized that it’s difficult for others to grasp what you actually do, especially colleagues who don’t have a technical background.

If you can’t clearly articulate your value, people default to their own (often incorrect) assumptions about your role and expertise.

When Your Title Undersells Your Impact

Let me share a personal example that illustrates just how misleading titles can be and why it matters for your career.

Years ago, I was a “Senior Communications Coordinator” in the largest municipal government in Canada. That title? It sounded small and was sort of like a catch-all.

Meanwhile, I was leading communication strategy for an entire division with 11 departments under my umbrella. I managed press issues, executive speeches, and high-stakes messaging. I wrote speeches for the mayor, executive directors, and city councillors. I developed strategic plans for internal and external communications. I even handled comms for multi-level government partnerships and media relations.

And yet… the word coordinator just didn’t feel right.

It didn't reflect the impact I was making. And I quickly realized something that changed the game:

Your title doesn't communicate your value. But YOU should.

How to Upgrade Your Value

If you want people to truly understand your role, stop relying on your job title. Instead, communicate your role like it's a title.

That means focusing on what people actually need to know.

What are you responsible for?
What problems do you solve?
How does your work impact the people around you?

It also means making it relevant to their world. People process information that matters to them—so connect what you do to their pain points, challenges, and goals.

I bet there’s someone in your network that needs to read this too! Sharing is caring ❤️

And above all, be crystal clear when you introduce yourself.

So instead of saying, "I'm a Process Optimization Manager," try this:
"I work with teams across the company to streamline their work processes and reduce unnecessary steps. Right now, I'm focused on integrating AI to help everyone spend less time on manual tasks and more time on work that drives real value."

And when speaking to a specific team make it relevant to them:
"I help call center teams deliver better customer service by streamlining their workflows and modernizing how they work. Right now, I'm focused on simplifying our systems and exploring how AI can make your jobs easier."

See the difference?

Just sticking with a vague title leaves too much to interpretation. While the others immediately communicate what you do in a way that resonates with the person you’re talking to.

Transform Your Career Impact

When people understand what you do and why it matters to them, two powerful things happen:

📌You’ll become more effective at your current job.
When others clearly understand your role and expertise, they trust your input more readily, come to you with the right challenges, and collaborate more effectively. There's less confusion, fewer misaligned requests, and more meaningful interactions.

📌It accelerates your career.
Opportunities come faster as your influence grows. You’ll become the go-to person because people understand exactly how you can help them succeed.

This is exactly what I teach in my 4-Hour Upgrade Workshop! It’s designed to help professionals refine how they communicate the value of their role (both in person and online) so the people they work with “get it” instantly.

Just last week, I ran this session for a digital web development agency for their annual professional development day. Their mentors and Gen Z mentees worked on upgrading how they articulate their experience and contributions. And the moment they did? The rest of the team immediately saw the Gen Zs in a new light—realizing just how much expertise these bright young tech stars actually had.

Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you’re called if no one understands what you actually do.

Want to bring this session to your team? Let’s talk.

💬 Now, I’d love to hear from you!
Have you ever had a title that didn’t match the reality of your role? Drop a comment below—I want to hear all about it!