Owning the Narrative and Building Reputation
In high-stakes environments, it is not the debate itself that executives remember, it is the summary. Busy leaders retain headlines, not transcripts. Research shows that women are systematically under-credited for contributions in group work, publications, and even patents. Without owning the narrative, achievements slip away unnoticed.
Applying a negotiation lens
Negotiation is not only about reaching an agreement but about how that agreement is remembered and recorded. Whoever writes the summary or documents the impact holds disproportionate influence over the perception of outcomes. This is not self-promotion, it is stewardship of the narrative.
The solution: practical moves
Decision-summary power – Volunteer to send the same-day summary. List decisions, owners, dates, and contributors.
Reputation by receipts – Replace adjectives with a cadence of evidence: “context, action, result, impact.”
Face-saving closures – Frame outcomes in language that protects your counterpart’s reputation and ensures agreement is defensible.
After a negotiation with a vendor: “Decision: greenlight Marketing Analytics with 1.0 FTE, owner Maya, start 1 October, thanks to Priya for benchmarking. I secured vendor API access at no charge.” You subtly credit yourself while cementing the memory of your contribution.
Advice for women in leadership
Document your value. Do not wait for others to narrate your impact. A short monthly note, “context, action, result, impact, collaborators,” creates a visible record that compounds over time. This builds reputation by evidence, not adjectives.
Leadership influence is not just about the meeting, it is about the memory. Shape the narrative, document your wins, and your reputation will grow on the foundation of evidence, not noise.