Closing the Perception Gap in Your Leadership Narrative

One of the biggest risks in an executive job search is not your capability or experience. It is the gap between how you see yourself and how others perceive your leadership. You may view yourself as a strategic transformation leader, while boards remember you primarily for operational stability. You may see yourself as future focused and commercially minded, while peers describe you as delivery driven. These perception gaps can quietly limit opportunity if they are not addressed.

At the senior level, decisions are often made through reputation, positioning, and story. People form impressions quickly, based on what they have seen, heard, or experienced from you in the past. If the external narrative does not match the leader you have become, you can find yourself unfairly boxed into an outdated version of your career.

The only way to close the gap is to test it honestly. Seek feedback from trusted peers, mentors, former stakeholders, and recruiters. Ask how they would describe your leadership value, your strengths, and the impact you are known for. Listen with curiosity rather than defensiveness. In the patterns you hear, you will find awareness, alignment, and opportunity for growth.

If you are between roles, this clarity helps you reposition your story with intention. If you are actively interviewing, it strengthens how you frame your leadership impact in conversations. And if you are quietly shaping your next chapter, it ensures the story being told about you reflects who you truly are today, not who you were years ago.

When you understand how you are perceived, you gain the ability to influence it. You can reshape your narrative, communicate your value more effectively, and help boards and CEOs see the full spectrum of your capability. That shift can be the difference between being overlooked and being chosen.

Practical Tip:
Ask three trusted people to describe your leadership in one sentence and to share one strength you are known for. Compare this with how you describe yourself. Where the descriptions differ, update your narrative, language, and examples to better reflect the impact you want to be recognised for.