Visibility Is Everything: Lessons from a Recent Recruiting Miss
No one cares how hard you’re working if they can’t see it
The other day, a hiring manager surprised me.
He thought we didn’t have enough candidates for him to interview.
That threw me off because I knew we had been working hard behind the scenes.
But then it hit me: I hadn’t done a good job showing him our progress.
I assumed he knew we were sourcing, reaching out, and developing a strong slate.
That assumption was my mistake.
When people can’t see the progress, they assume there is none.
That’s a hard truth. And one I’ve learned the hard way… more than once.
Especially in recruiting, a process that’s part sales, part hunting, and always messy.
When work happens behind the scenes (and even more so remotely), it’s easy to lose visibility.
A simple update can go a long way. But so can a quick call, a short text, or a follow-up email.
Those touches build trust. They also show your clients, candidates, and coworkers that you’re thinking ahead.
Don’t wait for someone to ask “What’s going on?”
In my case, I had to spend a few days playing catch-up.
I gave the hiring manager a clearer view of where we were and what to expect next.
It helped. It always does.
Here’s what I’m reminding myself (and maybe you need this too):
Don’t assume people know how hard you’re working. Show them.
No response doesn’t always mean things are fine.
Get ahead of uncertainty with visibility and feedback.
It’s always better to under-promise and over-deliver.
If you’re not sure how someone is viewing your work — ask.
Pick up the phone.
Send the message.
Check in.
We’re all in build mode — especially in hiring.
The work is gritty, imperfect, and always evolving.
But strong relationships and open communication?
That’s the real edge.
Question for you:
Who in your work life might not fully see what you’re doing?
How can you make your progress more visible to them this week?
Any relationship takes work and putting in the work will help good relationships get better and improve bad relationships.