5 Phrases That Put You on the Radar of Senior Decision-Makers
- Yas Ahmad
- Aug 25, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 5
Most people think hard work alone gets noticed it doesn’t. Senior leaders don’t have time to track every task you do. What they remember are the people who speak in a way that screams business impact, strategic thinking, and leadership potential. The right words can put you on the radar of decision-makers; the wrong ones make you blend into the background.
That’s why I’ve built this Leadership Recognition Guide: 5 scripts, each with what not to say, what to say, and why it works so you can turn everyday updates into career-defining moments.
1. “Here’s the challenge I identified and how we solved it.”
Don’t say: “We had an issue with onboarding.”
Say instead: “Here’s the challenge I identified, a 20% drop-off in onboarding and how we solved it. Completion is now 95%.”
Why it works: Problems without solutions sound like complaints. Leaders notice fixers, not whiners.
2. “This project cut costs by X and freed up Y hours.”
Don’t say: “I created a new reporting process.”
Say instead: “This project cut £60k in costs and freed 120 recruiter hours per quarter.”
Why it works: Leaders don’t reward activity; they reward outcomes with a business price tag.
3. “If we expand this, here’s the value company-wide.”
Don’t say: “The AI scheduling pilot worked well for our team.”
Say instead: “If we expand this pilot company-wide, we could save 10,000 recruiter hours a year.”
Why it works: Leaders think in scale. You stop being a doer and start sounding like a strategist.
4. “The credit goes to the team, here’s how we did it.”
Don’t say: “I fixed the issue.”
Say instead: “The data team flagged it, Ops built the fix, and Comms rolled it out seamlessly, credit goes to the team.”
Why it works: Hoarding credit makes you look insecure. Sharing it makes you look like a leader.
5. “I’d love your input on how we can scale this impact.”
Don’t say: “Can I roll this out across regions?”
Say instead: “We cut call-center attrition by 12%. I’d love your input on how we can scale this impact.”
Why it works: Asking permission = junior. Asking input = leadership potential.
Disclaimer: The information provided on YasarAhmad.com and in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but results may vary based on individual circumstances. Always seek personalised advice from a qualified professional. See terms and conditions for more information.
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