Make Your Absence Expensive

There is a quiet power in knowing that your presence is valued, but a deeper, strategic power in ensuring your absence would cost.

For many emerging leaders, the professional instinct is to be present, loyal, and dependable, the go-to person, the safe pair of hands. You show up early. You say yes to the stretch project. You shoulder the load. And somewhere along the way, you hope that someone notices, rewards, and promotes you.

But hope is not a strategy.

To build a meaningful, sustainable career in today’s volatile world of work, you must go beyond being valuable, you must become expensive to lose. This doesn’t mean arrogant posturing. It means building a career narrative, reputation, and network so compelling that your absence leaves a gap others feel urgently. It’s about establishing a promise of value — one that is seen, felt, and remembered — whether you’re in the room or not.

Here’s how.

Before you shout about your brand, you must build one worth shouting about. Do the work — consistently, excellently, without drama. Deliver on your projects. Be the person who gets things done without burning out or burning bridges. Excellence compounds, especially Black Excellence. And in a noisy world, reliability is radical.

But let’s be clear — working hard is not enough. Substance means strategic delivery: choosing the projects that align with your long-term goals, taking roles that develop your range, and learning how to document and communicate the impact you’ve made.

Keep a personal portfolio, a digital record of outcomes, testimonials, and lessons learned. Not just for your LinkedIn, but for your own clarity. If you don’t track your brilliance, don’t expect others to.

Your ideas matter. So share them.

You don’t need a podcast, a Substack, or a TED Talk (though all are welcome). But you do need a voice. Whether it’s contributing to internal town halls, writing industry articles, speaking on panels, or mentoring others, emerging leaders grow by articulating what they stand for.

Leadership isn’t just about output — it’s about outlook. Your thought leadership doesn’t need to be loud. It needs to be consistent, values-driven, and insightful.

People follow people who can name what others only feel.

Mentors are great, but advocates get you promoted. They mention your name in rooms you're not in. They forward your CV to the right inbox. They send the email that opens a door.

Identify the people who believe in your trajectory. Nurture those relationships. Keep them updated on your wins, not in a performative way, but in a strategic one. Send a quarterly email with key highlights and insights. Offer value back and connect them with someone, support their initiatives, or ask thoughtful questions.

Sponsorship is not always formal. But it is essential.

Elite performers train even when no one’s watching. Invest in your own development, whether your company pays for it or not. Take the course. Read the book. Attend the seminar. Learn the language of leadership: strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, resilience, and decision-making under pressure.

And learn how to lead yourself first, from managing your energy to knowing your triggers. A leader who can’t govern their own reactions will struggle to lead others.

Sustainable leadership begins with self-awareness, not self-sacrifice.

Even in a job you love, never stop looking.
Complacency is not the same as loyalty.

Regularly connect with recruiters — not because you’re disloyal, but because you’re in demand. Keep your LinkedIn updated, not just as a CV but as a strategic narrative. Reflect on your next two steps — not just your next title, but your next challenge, team, and mission.

Be proactive in exploring the market. Not because you want to leave, but because you never want to be trapped into staying.

Fear of the unknown has kept too many talented professionals stuck. Your current employer should know you choose to stay, not that you're afraid to leave.

Burnout is not a badge of honour. It's a warning light.
If you’re so exhausted that you’re no longer curious, no longer excited, no longer creative, you’ve stayed too long in survival mode.

Build in recovery as a leadership habit. Take the holiday. Close the laptop. Set the boundary. You can’t lead if you’re constantly on the verge of breaking. Being indispensable should never mean being depleted.

True impact is built from a place of centredness, not chaos.

Make your absence expensive.

Not through ego, but through excellence. Not through fear, but through freedom. Let your career be built with such intentionality, skill, and integrity that any organisation lucky enough to have you knows exactly what it stands to lose — and what it must do to keep you.

That is what it means to be a BRAVE leader.
To stand tall. To stay sharp.
And to know your worth even when others forget.