The Dentist

How often do you think about your dentist? You think about them when you have a problem. When it’s solved, you put them back on the shelf.

This is what happens to professionals who are really good at one thing. Their credibility gets anchored in that ability. When strategic conversations come up, people aren’t excluding them on purpose. They just don’t think of them.

I coached an analyst who was brilliant at AI. The organization couldn’t think of him without thinking of AI. When he asked for broader strategic involvement, the response was “sure, when there’s an opportunity.”

He was their dentist. And the dentist never gets invited to the strategy meeting.

What are you known for that might be keeping you invisible for everything else?