Feeling Unseen at Work

How this happens

I frequently speak with people who have become frustrated at work, due to a common complaint; they don’t see the appreciation, recognition or pay they and their work deserves. They optimistically hold out for something, anything from leadership with hopes the situation will turn around, but it rarely happens. Some advocate for themselves only to find that they’re overlooked as a direct result of their hard work, a fact that leaves them rattled.

What’s the real problem

First, if you never have a problem, question, or issue at work, it can make the boss focus on others around you. It’s unfair, but it’s a natural human response to reliable people. When someone is quiet, focused, and dependable, it’s easy to ignore that individual. So many of us assume leaders are aware of everything in their realm, but that’s not usually the case. Many leaders have a set group of people they see every day, a standard means of communication and specific reports. If your name doesn’t appear in any of the above, you can be unseen.

Second, your communication style might need help. For example, consider the Vice President who felt certain he contributed more than anyone else at leadership meetings. However, a quick investigation on his part revealed that his supposed contributions were restatements of things everyone else had already said. His comments brought nothing new to the table and left everyone rolling their eyes.

What to do to turn it around

The first step is to put yourself in the boss’s shoes and take an empathetic view.

If you were in charge and had ‘you’ in the office, how would you see yourself? What does leadership get from you and how are you seen each day? What interactions do you have on a regular basis? Think about how you describe yourself - a high-capacity worker, a leader, someone who has an essential skill that helps your company - then try to find out if others see it.

Talk to others in your department who you see regularly and ask them to describe you as a co-worker. If they come up short or stop at “dependable” you have a problem. Your vision of yourself isn’t translating and you need to change your communication style to help others better understand you. Practice active listening when someone else takes charge of a small group and maintain comfortable eye contact. Nod as someone else talks and listen for the best moment to contribute your thoughts or ideas.

Talk to your manager

Schedule a time to meet with leadership and say that you want to do more for the company.

Express your desire to take on certain projects or attend different trainings. This shows leadership, you can take ownership of your shortcomings and your career trajectory. Follow up this conversation with regular check-ins or emails about what you’re working on and what’s going well. Schedule regular update meetings when possible.

Remember, it’s not bragging as long as it’s true, so don’t hesitate to share your successes. Your boss needs to know your value and your plans with the company. If you hope to rise in your company, that should be communicated clearly.

Once you start making positive moves toward a more visible, impactful presence at work, everyone will appreciate it.

Get face time with your team

Keep yourself visible, even if you work remotely. That means joining meetings with your camera on, even if you aren’t the one speaking. If your space is messy, put on a filter and fake it. Make eye contact with the camera and react to things others say with nods, smiles, thumbs up, and contributions whenever appropriate. Practice your active listening skills.

Whether in the office or on-line meetings, use that time to chat with others about what you’re doing, ask questions, and be available for help. This shouldn’t be a moment for you to pull others away from their work, but rather a time to interface. Make your presence a welcome sight on a regular basis and reap the rewards.

Advocate yourself

Self-advocacy can sound slimy and sales-y, but it doesn’t have to be a big pitch every time. You can promote yourself in little moments with helpful yet highlighted comments. “This sounds like something my team and I took on last year,” is a good way to remind the boss that you have experience leading. “I studied that in grad school,” helps remind the CEO that you have a master's.

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