Template: Enhance overall executive presence. User-facing name: Make Your Mark.
Status: draft. The name, template, stages and the routing example are Kate's (12 October 2026). Everything else is Proposed: drafted by Claude from Step Up's recipe and the prototype, for Kate to confirm. Rules every plan shares are in plans/shared.md.
1. Plan card
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| Intended user situation | A senior leader whose work is respected inside her organization, but who is not yet known in her field for a point of view of her own. |
| Desired outcome | A clear point of view, said in her own words, consistently in writing and in front of external audiences, kept up at a rhythm she can sustain. |
| Common constraints | Limited time, her employer's rules on speaking publicly, discomfort with self-promotion, and uncertainty about what is worth saying. |
1.1 How people arrive here
- Direction answer: "I want to be more visible as a leader in my field."
- Refinement answer: "My visibility and point of view" under What are the areas you're seeking to build or enhance?
- Driver: "My desire to stand out in my field as an influential thought leader."
When another plan fits better
- The visibility is a means to a promotion or a bigger role → Step Up.
- One talk, panel or appearance is coming up and is the whole concern → Make the Move.
- The audience she cares about is inside her company → Lead Where You Are.
1.2 Stages and success signals
| Stage | Success signal |
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| 1. Define your point of view | She can say what she stands for in one sentence without naming her employer, and has a short list of topics she is willing to defend. |
| 2. Put it in writing | She has published under her own name on at least one of her topics, and her LinkedIn profile says the same thing her writing does. |
| 3. Take it to external audiences | She has pitched, and ideally been accepted by, at least one event, podcast or publication that her audience follows, and recorded how it went. |
| 4. Sustain a cadence | She has a rhythm of writing and outreach that fits her week, has kept it for a stretch, and knows which channels are working. |
2. Action playbook
The agent recommends the step whose trigger matches her situation now. An accepted invitation brings 3.3 forward at any point.
Stage 1: Define your point of view
1.1 Write how she describes herself, in her words, not her employer's
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| Horizon | Short-term |
| Trigger | She chose visibility or point of view as her main need, or she describes herself only through her job title and company. |
| Done when | She saves a short self-description and confirms it sounds like her. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The saved statement, its edit history, her confirmation. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: point of view. Signals: the base for LinkedIn, published content and every pitch. |
| Tool | Positioning Builder. Onboarding's one-sentence statement is the first version. |
| Follow-up | None. |
1.2 Name three to five topics she is willing to defend, with her stance on each
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| Horizon | Short-term |
| Trigger | She has a self-description but no clear subjects to speak or write on, or her topics are too broad to say anything distinctive. |
| Done when | She records at least three topics, each with a one-line stance someone could disagree with. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The topic list and stances, a completion timestamp. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: point of view. Signals: creates source material for published content, speaking, podcasts and press. |
| Tool | Positioning Builder, adding her topics. |
| Follow-up | None. |
Stage 2: Put it in writing
2.1 Write and publish a first piece under her own name on one of her topics
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| Horizon | Medium-term (30 to 60 days) |
| Trigger | She has topics and stances but nothing published that shows them. |
| Done when | She marks the piece published and says where. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The artifact's lifecycle state, the channel, the draft-to-final versions, an optional outcome update. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: written point of view. Signals: published content, and LinkedIn when posted there. |
| Tool | Thought Leadership Builder. |
| Follow-up | A week after it is marked published, the Loop asks what response it got. |
2.2 Bring her LinkedIn profile in line with her point of view
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| Horizon | Short-term |
| Trigger | Her self-description is saved, and her profile's headline or About section still describes only her role. |
| Done when | She confirms she has updated her headline and About section. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | Her confirmation and the date. ExecHQ does not read her profile in V1. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: written point of view. Signals: LinkedIn and AI discoverability. |
| Tool | Positioning Builder: copy the statement for her About section. |
| Follow-up | None. |
2.3 Respond to a Briefing read with a short post
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| Horizon | Short-term, recurring |
| Trigger | A read in today's Briefing touches one of her topics, and she has not published in the last few weeks. |
| Done when | She marks the post published, or chooses not to and says so. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The draft linked to its source read, its lifecycle state. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: written point of view. Signals: published content and LinkedIn. |
| Tool | Thought Leadership Builder, started from the Briefing. |
| Follow-up | None beyond the Briefing's own "Read today's Briefing" step. |
Stage 3: Take it to external audiences
3.1 List the events, podcasts and publications her audience actually follows
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| Horizon | Short-term |
| Trigger | She has published at least once and is ready to be heard beyond her own channels. |
| Done when | She saves a short list of at least five outlets, each with why its audience matters to her. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The saved list, a completion timestamp. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: external audiences. Signals: foundation for speaking, podcasts and press. |
| Tool | None in V1. |
| Follow-up | None. |
3.2 Send a tailored pitch to one event, podcast or publication on her list
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| Horizon | Medium-term (30 to 60 days) |
| Trigger | She has her list and at least one published piece to point to. |
| Done when | She marks the pitch sent and names where it went. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The pitch's lifecycle state, the target and date she reports, the outcome when she gives it. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: external audiences. Signal: speaking, podcasts or press, depending on the outlet. |
| Tool | Pitch Builder. |
| Follow-up | The Loop asks for an answer after the check-back period: accepted, declined, or no reply. |
3.3 Prepare for an accepted talk, panel, interview or podcast
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| Horizon | Short-term |
| Trigger | She has accepted an invitation with a date. |
| Done when | She records the audience, the one thing she wants them to remember and three supporting points, and marks the preparation complete. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The preparation artifact, the date, completion status. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: external audiences. Signal: speaking, podcasts or press. |
| Tool | Situation Brief. |
| Follow-up | The day after the date, the Loop asks how it went and what came of it. |
Stage 4: Sustain a cadence
4.1 Set a rhythm she can keep
For example, one piece a month and one pitch a quarter.
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| Horizon | Short-term |
| Trigger | She has published and pitched at least once each. |
| Done when | She chooses a rhythm, sized to the weekly time she gave in onboarding. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The chosen rhythm, the date. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: cadence. Signals: sets the pace for published content, LinkedIn and pitching. |
| Tool | None. |
| Follow-up | None. |
4.2 Complete a weekly Signal Background reflection
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| Horizon | Short-term, recurring |
| Trigger | The plan needs current context, or she has not updated it recently. |
| Done when | She submits a reflection with at least one update, or says nothing material has changed. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The reflection, her self-reported update, the date. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: current context. Signals: keeps all six signal interpretations current. |
| Tool | None. |
| Follow-up | None. |
4.3 Turn what she has published into a body of work
A series, a signature talk, or a single piece that gathers her strongest argument.
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| Horizon | Long-term (a quarter or longer) |
| Trigger | She has several published pieces or appearances on the same topic. |
| Done when | She saves the plan for the series or talk and marks its first part done. |
| Evidence ExecHQ keeps | The linked artifacts, the plan, progress updates. |
| Plan area and signal | Plan area: cadence. Signals: published content, speaking and AI discoverability. |
| Tool | Thought Leadership Builder. |
| Follow-up | Progress on its own parts. |
3. Feedback
Kate, 14 Oct. Which steps ask her for feedback, and of which type. The types and their answers are in plans/shared.md, section 6. Proposed, all of the table: the source names no feedback.
| Step | Asks? | Type | When ExecHQ asks | What her answer changes |
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| 1.1 How she describes herself, in her words | Yes | Is this right? | As soon as it is drafted | "Yes, that's it" completes the step and every tool draws on it; "Change it" reopens Positioning Builder |
| 1.2 Three to five topics, with her stance on each | No | None | | Recording them is done |
| Stage 1 ends | Yes | Stage check-in | When 1.1 and 1.2 are done | Yes: Stage 2 as planned. Partly or Not yet: Stage 2 opens with a step at the gap (usually a stance someone could disagree with) |
| 2.1 A first piece under her own name | Yes | What came of it? ("How did it land?") | 7 days after she marks it published | It went well: that topic leads her list in 3.1. Mixed or Not the way I hoped: the next piece tries another topic or angle. Nothing yet: asks again |
| 2.2 LinkedIn profile in line with her point of view | No | None | | Confirming the update is done |
| 2.3 A short post responding to a Briefing read | Yes | What came of it? ("How did it land?") | 7 days after she marks it published; nothing if she chose not to post | It went well: offers the topic for a longer piece. Otherwise the next Briefing read is offered as usual |
| Stage 2 ends | Yes | Stage check-in | When 2.1 and 2.2 are done | Partly or Not yet: one more piece before she pitches. Stuck or Less sure: Stage 3 starts with one step, and offers talking it through |
| 3.1 A list of outlets her audience follows | No | None | | Saving the list is done |
| 3.2 A tailored pitch to one outlet on her list | Yes | What came of it? | 5 days after she marks it sent | It went well (accepted): 3.3 starts from the pitch. Mixed: the next outlet on her list. Not the way I hoped (declined): a different angle or outlet. Nothing yet (no reply): copies the follow-up in the pitch |
| 3.3 Prepare for an accepted talk, panel, interview or podcast | Yes | How did it go? | The day after its date | It went well: the appearance becomes material for 4.3. Not the way I hoped: 3.2 again with a better-fitting outlet. It hasn't happened yet: asks after the new date |
| Stage 3 ends | Yes | Stage check-in | When 3.2 and 3.3 are done | Partly or Not yet: another pitch before the cadence. Stuck: one step, and offers talking it through |
| 4.1 A rhythm she can keep | No | None | | Choosing it is done |
| 4.2 Weekly Signal Background reflection | Yes | Anything new? | Weekly | Something new: an invitation brings 3.3 forward; new work becomes a topic. Nothing has changed: the rhythm goes on |
| 4.3 Turn what she has published into a body of work | Yes | Progress check | Every 4 weeks while it is open | Slipped: its next part gets smaller. Done: the plan is complete |
| Stage 4 ends | Yes | Stage check-in | When 4.1 and 4.3's first part are done | Yes: the plan is complete, and she keeps the rhythm. Less sure: offers whether another plan fits better |
4. Signal emphasis
Internal only, never shown to her. A dash means the plan does not recommend work in that signal in that stage.
| Signal | 1. Define your point of view | 2. Put it in writing | 3. Take it to external audiences | 4. Sustain a cadence | How it adds to executive presence |
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| LinkedIn | Foundation: settle the self-description her profile will use | Primary: align the profile and post her writing there | Evidence: share appearances and coverage | Primary: keep a steady, recognizable presence | The first place people check what she stands for |
| Press | Foundation: identify topics where she has a credible angle | — | Primary: pitch selectively where her point of view fits | Evidence: record and reuse coverage | Third-party credibility for her point of view |
| Speaking | Foundation: identify topics she could speak on | — | Primary: pitch for and prepare talks and panels | Evidence: carry audience response into the next pitch | Shows authority in the room, not only on the page |
| Podcasts | Foundation: identify points of view suited to an interview | — | Primary: pitch for and prepare appearances | Evidence: use appearances to earn the next invitation | Depth and reach for her point of view |
| Published content | Foundation: turn her topics into stances | Primary: publish under her own name | Evidence: point pitches to what she has published | Primary: keep publishing at her rhythm | Durable proof of how she thinks |
| AI discoverability | Primary: make her public description coherent and accurate | Evidence: check her writing makes her findable on her topics | Evidence: check appearances reinforce the same picture | Primary: keep her footprint coherent as it grows | Shows whether her field can find her for her point of view |
5. How the agent behaves on Make Your Mark
It adds to the rules every plan shares (plans/shared.md, section 5).
- Her voice, not her employer's. It helps her say what she thinks, and steers away from restating company messaging.
- A stance, not a summary. It pushes for a point someone could disagree with, because that is what gets remembered and invited.
- Respect her employer's rules. It reminds her to check her company's policy before she speaks for the first time on a sensitive subject, and never suggests saying anything confidential.
- Fewer, better channels. It recommends one or two channels that fit her audience and time, never all six at once.
- Invitations are earned, not promised. It helps her pitch well; it never says a pitch will be accepted.
6. Open questions
- Routing. Is "My desire to stand out in my field as an influential thought leader" always a route here, or only alongside the direction answer?
- Stage 3 and Step Up. Both plans pitch and prepare for appearances. Is the difference (presence as the goal here, presence as evidence in Step Up) clear enough for routing?
- Pace. No suggested period per stage yet. The prototype uses four weeks a stage.
- Employer policy. Should onboarding ask whether she needs approval to speak publicly?
- The outlet list (3.1) and the body of work (4.3). Neither has a V1 tool. Are they V1?