Adaolisa Onwuebe is the Lead Digital Strategist at Ligera Digital Agency.
We’ve all heard the usual career advice: “Network more”, “Build your personal brand”, “Speak up in meetings”. But there’s one piece of advice that often gets left out and it’s arguably just as important, especially if you want to grow within your company: mastering internal PR.
No, we’re not talking about being loud or boastful. Internal PR is really just about making sure your good work doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s how you quietly and consistently communicate your value, build strong relationships, and protect your reputation in the workplace.
Why Doing Good Work Isn’t Always Enough
Most of us were raised to believe that if we put our heads down and do great work, someone will eventually notice. But in fast moving teams, remote environments, and endless email chains, even your best efforts can slip under the radar. That’s where internal PR comes in. It’s not just a “nice to have”, it’s how you make sure your work gets seen, understood, and appreciated.
What Internal PR Really Means
Let’s start by clearing something up: internal PR doesn’t mean hogging the spotlight or interrupting meetings to talk about yourself. It means being intentional about how your work is seen and making sure people understand how it connects to the bigger picture.
So what does it look like?
- Sharing key wins or project milestones in a clear and timely way.
- Letting people know when your team’s work helps another department succeed.
- Keeping track of your contributions so you’re ready when it’s time for reviews or promotions.
And what does it not look like?
- Taking credit for things you didn’t do.
- Fishing for compliments or praise.
- Ignoring or downplaying your teammates’ efforts.
A lot of people hold back from talking about their work because they don’t want to sound arrogant. The good news? You don’t have to be flashy to be noticed. You just need to be clear, thoughtful, and a little bit strategic.
Here’s how:
- Connect your work to impact. Don’t just say, “I finished the report”. Say, “I finished the report and it shows we could improve Q4 efficiency by 15% which supports our larger goal around operational excellence.”
- Give credit where it’s due. Instead of “I launched the feature,” try “Thanks to the amazing collaboration between design and engineering, we launched early”. You’re still showing leadership, just with humility.
- Pick the right time and place. Maybe it’s a weekly meeting, a Slack update, or a quick note to your manager. Share your wins, but don’t force them into conversations where they don’t fit.
Your internal network is everything and you need to think beyond your immediate team. The relationships you build across your company play a huge role in how visible and valuable you become.
- Be curious. Learn about what other departments are doing. If you spot a connection or collaboration opportunity, make the intro. It shows you’re not just thinking about your lane, you’re thinking big.
- Find a mentor. A good mentor can offer advice but more importantly they’ll often be your biggest champion when you’re not in the room.
- Don’t shy away from leadership. Ask smart questions in company meetings. Volunteer for cross functional projects. Those little moments of visibility add up.
When things go sideways, show up with grace. Internal PR isn’t only for your highlight reel. It matters even more when things don’t go as planned.
- Own your mistakes. Be upfront. Say what went wrong, what you’ve learned, and how you’re fixing it. People respect accountability.
- Bring solutions. It’s easy to flag a problem. It’s far more impressive to say, “Here’s the issue and here’s what I suggest we do.”
Finally, tell the story, don’t wait for someone else to.At the end of the day, your career isn’t just shaped by what you do. It’s shaped by how others perceive what you do. By getting more intentional about internal PR, you’re not being boastful. You’re just making sure the right people understand the value you bring. And that story? It’s yours to tell.
