Feeling Unrecognized at Work? Try these strategies.

Whether you’re applying for a job, wanting a promotion, or looking for a clients, being “scrolled past” (literally or figuratively) can weigh you down.?

Why didn’t they choose you??

In this world where everybody’s competing for attention both in and out of the professional arena (think ads everywhere you look or with every click you make) and shorter attention spans, do you still have a chance to be noticed??

Being noticed for the work that you do or for who you are is not just about prestige or popularity. Being recognized and acknowledged makes you feel seen. And being seen (or feeling seen) is a universal human need. This visibility also plays a big part, not just in advancing, but I dare say, also surviving in the ever-evolving workplace.?

Here are 5 ways you can boost your visibility without coming across as boastful or arrogant.?

Volunteer for stretch assignments

So you think you’re ready to play in the big league? Prove it.?

It’s easy for anyone to say, “I can do bigger things.” But doing it, is proof that you are actually capable. One of the ways that you can prove your capability, while waiting for the promotion or the offer, is through volunteering for stretch assignments. Stretch assignments are projects or tasks that are outside your current scope, experience or expertise. By doing these, you show your willingness to learn and grow, and your capability to do other things beyond your job description. Plus, it allows you to grow your network too.

Pro Tip: Ask your manager or your colleagues about on-going or planned projects where you can participate.?

Here’s a related article on volunteering

Advocate for yourself

Once, in a school play, I felt so bad for not being chosen to perform a particular role during the “Gala Night.” So when rehearsal night came, even if I had no business being there, I hung around, hoping to get noticed. I was hoping they’d say, “Hey, we forgot about Kurly. We should let her play the role instead.” Long story short, it didn’t work.

And shamefully, I admit that I’ve done that other times not just in my childhood but also in my professional life. I passively hoped to get noticed. But that barely got me anywhere. Yes, your work can still speak for you, but you have to advocate for yourself too.

Ever wondered why even big names like McDonald’s, Coca Cola or Starbucks still make an effort to market themselves even if they’re already popular? No matter how talented you are or how long you’ve been in the industry, you still need to play an active role in advocating for yourself.?

Don’t like bragging about what you do? Reframe the way you see it. My client, Rosanna (not her real name), told me that she wants to get noticed at work but said that she doesn’t want to be like a peacock proudly showing off its beautiful feathers. Through coaching, she realized that it’s not really about showing off her work. She shifted her perspective and saw it as transparency and communication. All she really had to do was to communicate progress, next steps and help needed.?

Pro Tip: Document your progress and outcomes, and communicate them. When I was a manager, I always told my team that I am not omniscient. I don’t see or know all the work they’re doing. So they have to tell me.?

Voice out what you want and need

Your manager, recruiter, potential client or business partner cannot read your mind. If there’s something that you want, you must communicate and ask for it.

“My manager didn’t select me to attend the training,” a client said. “Does she know you’re interested?,” I asked. She shook her head.

When clients tell me they’re stuck, I’ve observed that it’s usually because they do not know what they want or they’re unable to communicate it. In order to voice out what you want and need, first, be clear about what it is. Are you looking for a role in people development? Do you need a mentor you can speak to regularly? Do you want to gain experience in public speaking? Once you’ve clarified your wants and needs, then talk to people who can support you.?

Pro Tip: In your next conversation with your boss, don’t just talk about your results or progress. Share your plans as well and what support you need.?

Be strategic about the work you accept

Volunteering for stretch assignments doesn’t translate to saying yes to everything. Doing that may create an impression of you being the ever reliable worker bee– someone they can count on to do the work, but not to lead or do bigger things.?

Being strategic about the work you accept includes setting your boundaries, but it’s more than that. It also means that you need to check for alignment with and impact on your short and long term goals. For example, accepting small tasks that seem “below your pay band” might seem like a waste of time for someone tenured and experienced. However, if one of your goals is to build trust and establish yourself as someone who can roll up your sleeves, then that small task might be a stepping stone closer to your goal.?

Pro Tip: When you’ve clarified your goals, you can use these questions in assessing tasks or projects that come your way. Which goals do these align with? How does this impact me personally and professionally? What can I learn or gain from this?

Be a thought leader and more

Thought leadership establishes you as someone credible in your field. But this doesn’t mean simply sharing ideas. To truly become a thought leader you must invest in continuous self-development and cultivate your innovation and creativity. But don’t stop there. What good are ideas if they’re just on paper or on screen? Champion your ideas by living out the values and beliefs they embody, and by actively supporting related causes or programs.

To me, being a thought leader goes beyond having radical or fresh ideas. It’s about using those ideas to change the world for the better.?

Tip: Allot time regularly to sharpen your saw in different ways. Take part in conversations on topics you’re passionate about.?

TL;DR: Visibility is essential

There’s a reason why products are displayed and organized a certain way in the supermarket. There’s a reason why the better seats in a basketball game cost more. There’s a reason why business owners carefully study the location before opening a shop.?

We need to be visible first before we can be seen.?

Being visible can be an outcome of the good work you’ve already done, and conscious effort to make yourself visible, not because you like attention, but because you know that you are capable of giving value and making a difference.?

LinkedIn has been instrumental in my career and business, and I’d love to share this with you. If you’re looking for ways to be more visible on LinkedIn, to find jobs or clients or to spread awareness and share knowledge, we still have some seats left in the upcoming webinar, Making LinkedIn Work for You: An Introductory Session for Coaches and Consultants, on Oct 25 at 5:00PM. Save your seat here.

Registration closes on Oct 20, or as soon as seats are filled! So hurry because we don’t know if and when we’ll do this again. Sign up here.

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Coach Kurly de Guzman is a Career and Leadership Coach and one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices based in the Philippines. She continuously seeks ways to help coaches, leaders and teams thrive through her newsletter, leadership and career development workshops as well as group and 1:1 coaching sessions for clients.?

To work with Kurly, send an email to [email protected] or book an exploratory call to discuss your organization’s needs here.