Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
Being Seen: Part 5 Coaching to Break Through Invisibility
Darlene Hawley
How being seen in your full humanity transforms your leadership, your visibility—and your business.
We all want to be seen.
Not just noticed. Not just acknowledged.
But witnessed
But for who we are, how we show up, and what we bring to the table.
Guess what happens when we are?
We speak more clearly.
We lead more boldly.
We attract the right opportunities.
We finally stop shrinking, apologizing, or second-guessing ourselves.
Recently, I had a client come to me with a pivot in her business, around 10 different offers… and no real traction.
She felt stuck on how to talk about her services. She didn’t feel confident sending people to her sales page. And at networking events, she found herself stumbling over her words when someone asked, “How can I work with you?”
So we worked together to rewrite her sales page and restructured her entire offer suite, so that it was crystal clear.
Three clear offers. One strong message. A confident voice behind it all.
And you know what happened?
She signed 7 new clients in July... because she finally felt aligned in how she was showing up.
Not just in her content, but in her energy.
That’s the power of being seen.
Witnessing Is the Foundation of Visibility
This isn’t just about sales. It’s not just about teams.
It’s about trust.
Whether you’re:
A business owner trying to grow with the right clients, or
A leader trying to create safety and engagement on your team…
You can’t do it without creating space for people to feel seen.
In my coaching work, this is where it always starts:
I witness you... your story, your brilliance, your blocks... and help you reflect it back to the world with clarity.
This is where the magic happens, so you can...
Stop overexplaining
Speak up in rooms that used to scare them
Clarify messaging that finally attracts the right people
Step into aligned visibility that actually works for YOU
What Witnessing Looks Like (for Leaders + Entrepreneurs)
For leaders inside organizations, witnessing looks like:
Letting someone finish before jumping in
Reflecting growth, not just outcomes
Naming strengths that people don’t see in themselves
Creating psychological safety so people feel heard
For entrepreneurs, it looks like:
Getting support from someone who helps pull the gold out of your message
Clarifying your offers and voice so people “get it”
Showing up to market yourself without overthinking or apologizing
This is what I do.
It’s not about giving someone a script or a template... It’s helping them see that they already are the message. They just need the space and strategy to express it.
When Visibility Lacks Witnessing, It Feels Hollow
You can post every day and still feel like no one sees the real you.
You can have the most beautiful website in the world... but if the words don’t reflect who you are and how you help, people won’t work with you.
You can lead meetings every week... but if your team doesn’t feel seen, they’ll just show up and go through the motion.
Visibility without witnessing is noise.
But when someone is truly seen... they rise.
Try This Practice: “What I Want You to Know About Me…”
This reflective prompt works beautifully in both group settings and personal journaling.
Ask:
“What I want you to know about me right now is…”
This is a way to invite truth, presence, and authenticity without pressure.
Use it at the beginning of a team meeting. In a mastermind. Or as part of your next brand update or sales page rewrite.
You might be surprised what you uncover.
If you’re a leader: How can you witness someone on your team this week... not for what they produce, but for who they are?
If you’re a business owner: Where are you hiding behind vague messaging or outdated offers that don’t fully reflect your voice?
And if you’re ready to be witnessed yourself... to clarify your message, show up more confidently, and attract the right clients or opportunities... I’d love to support you.
That’s what I do.
Through coaching, messaging, and visibility strategy... I help you get seen for real.
Book a coaching session and help me celebrate 19 years in business with a special offer of $190.
💬 MadLib Prompt
“When I feel witnessed for (strength/emotion/idea), I feel more (energy/clarity/emotion). I want to offer that space to others by _(action you’ll take).”
✨Ready to Own Your Story and Attract Your Dream Clients?✨
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your message and start using storytelling as a powerful tool to connect, inspire, and sell—then I’d love to invite you to my It’s Time to Own Your Story: Mini-Course.
In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Identify the key moments in your story that captivate your audience.
✔️ Share your story in a way that builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
✔️ Use storytelling across your website, social media, and sales conversations to attract and convert more clients.
Plus, you’ll get a
step-by-step workbook and
personal feedback on your brand story—so you can start sharing with confidence.
Hey There!
I'm Darlene
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.
Explore how career pivots and technological advancements like AI can reshape business landscapes and personal journeys.
When you're talking but no one's listening. Have you ever introduced yourself at a networking event… only to feel like people’s eyes glazed over? One of my clients put it perfectly: “Darlene, I share who I am and what I do, but it feels like I’m invisible. People nod politely and then move on.” She had so much value to offer. In fact, she is amazing at what she did. Yet, her introduction was all over the place. Some days she was talking to potential clients, other days to possible collaborators, and sometimes even she wasn’t sure what her main point was. And that’s why it felt like no one was listening. Why This Happens It’s not because you’re not experienced enough. It’s not because you’re not interesting enough. It’s because without clarity about who your audience is in the room and what you really want to say, your voice gets lost in the shuffle of business cards and conversations. Networking rooms are full of people competing for attention. If your message doesn’t connect directly... if it doesn’t make them pause, lean in and say, “Tell me more” ... it disappears before they even leave the event. The Shift When this client and I worked together, the first thing we did was get crystal clear about: Who she most wanted to reach in the room. What those people actually cared about. How her work specifically helped them. Once she had that clarity, her introductions started sounding different... more direct, more alive, more her. And the result? People leaned in. Instead of walking away, they asked questions. They followed up after the event. They booked time with her. Because when you find your voice and know exactly who you’re talking to, you stop being forgettable. You become someone people can’t ignore. This is exactly what we’ll be diving into in Session 1 of my Attract & Stand Out Framework: Getting clear on who your audience is. Knowing what you want to say. Communicating how you help in a way that truly connects... whether you’re introducing yourself in a room or on stage. It’s not just about having the words, it’s about the confidence to say them out loud too... with presence, authority, and ease. If you’ve been walking out of networking events feeling overlooked, let this be a gentle nudge: ~ You don’t need to try harder. ~ You don’t need to stuff more into your intro. ~ You need clarity... on your audience, your message, and your voice. That’s where visibility begins. That’s how you go from overlooked to unforgettable. Think about the last time you introduced yourself at a networking event. Could the right person in the room... your dream client or collaborator... hear you and say: “That’s me. She gets it”? ________________________________________________________ 🌀 Nervous System Regulator: The 4-7-8 Reset Feeling that anxious butterfly sensation before you introduce yourself? Try this right before you speak: Inhale quietly through your nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7. Exhale slowly and fully through your mouth for a count of 8. Repeat this 3–4 times. It only takes a minute, but it tells your nervous system: You’re safe. You’ve got this. When your body is calm, your voice comes through with more presence and power... and people remember you. ✨ Ready to stop feeling overlooked at networking events? Download my free guide, 6 Steps to Attract & Stand Out, and discover how to clarify your message, show up with confidence, and connect with the people who matter most. Grab it here »
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