I hear it so often:
“Why was I passed over for this promotion? I work so hard!”
Working hard, behind your desk, does not mean you are visible. At school, grades showed your effort. At work, results must be seen. And managers aren’t mind-readers.
Yet many people hold back, often afraid of what others might think:
“Won’t they think I’m showing off?
That I’m wrong?
That I’m incompetent?
That I’m stupid?”
But as Eleanor Roosevelt wisely said:
“You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”
So what helps? A few strategies:
1. Ignore the pessimists – criticism rarely comes from those who build, create, or grow. It often comes from those who stand still.
2. Define your unique value – your superpowers, your achievements. Keep track of them and start your success list today!
3. Build strategic relationships – mentors, sponsors, coaches, allies. Who can be in your dream team?
4. Be physically present – working from home is great, but visibility also comes from being seen. Walk the floor, join that event, hang around at the coffee machine, and don’t skip the Friday drinks.
Step in the spotlight, be more than an employee number being discussed at the management table. Only then, your talents and hard work will be seen, acknowledged and valued.
