How can a new IT leader balance building their reputation as a leader while at the same time increasing their team’s visibility in the organization?

I've had a leader who constantly used "I" instead of "we," which set me off because it's a team effort. The use of language is crucial when communicating with senior leaders. Every word is analyzed, so be careful. Also, focus on strategy by anchoring on a few clear, simple strategic hooks that drive your direction. Keep the strategy clean and simple.

Demonstrating leadership is viewed as elevating staff. From the beginning, I brought team members into conversations and gave credit for their work. It's about giving credit and taking blame, which helps build trust and visibility.

For me, creating visibility is an ongoing topic. I create opportunities to showcase the team's achievements. Co-presenting with colleagues or team members and providing email updates are ways to highlight the team's strengths. For example, during a critical event last year, I used it as a showcase to demonstrate how great and technically strong the team is.