Office Hours: How to Make Sure Your Supervisors Actually Notice Your Hard Work

Hey early career professionals ?

Ever wanted a mentor? An internet bestie to help you kick butt and take names? But meeting people is hard, executives are busy, and let’s face it— it can be difficult to find a good way to form a genuine connection. But as they say in the world of business-it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. So not connecting can seriously negatively impact you in your early career journey.

The solution? Office Hours! Office Hours is my new series where I’m going to be your early career mentor, every Friday morning.

Welcome to the first edition of Office Hours where we are tackling how you can become more visible at work as an early career professional.

( ?? Psst! Office Hours is a special edition of Red Letter Day, a blog about finding the balance between work and play. You can subscribe to the full blog at redletterday.substack.com)

My Credentials

Hi, I’m Katie Konans! After graduating in 2019, I worked my way up from an internship where I had zero science communication background and am now a senior communications program manager at NASA. I serve on the board of Mercer University’s Reg Murphy Center for Collaborative Journalism, where I work with students like you to build successful media careers. As a coordinating mentor for NASA’s internship program, I often give students pointers on how to standout in their early careers. And I made the Forbes 30 under 30 list this year for revolutionizing digital strategy—a real pinch me moment.

Why Office Hours?

The thing is? I grew up with no one to turn to for early career advice, and many early career professionals come from backgrounds like mine. Not everyone has a roadmap to success. But Office Hours is here to help bridge that gap.

Office Hours is your power hour to plan your future. Smart professionals schedule dedicated "life admin" time. Many companies have "Quiet Fridays." So pick an hour in your calendar, block it off, and let's leverage that for some serious career building.

Meeting Agenda

Today’s topic?

Hard work is crucial, but getting recognition for it is equally important. It’s what leads to bonuses promotions, and raises, and changes the way your colleagues and supervisors interact with you. Your level of visibility can make or break how your colleagues see your value. It seems harsh, but it’s true. So how do you get ahead?

In this week’s Office Hours, we're exploring strategies to boost your visibility in the workplace and earn that well-deserved credit.

So let’s get into it.

But first, the Fine Print

As with any advice, this is what has worked for me and the students / early career professionals I’ve mentored. Your mileage may vary.

What is Workplace Visibility?

Some of my favorite early career advice comes from former president Barack Obama:

“What I'm always looking for is, no matter how small the problem or how big it is, somebody who says, let me take care of that. If you project an attitude of whatever it is that's needed, I can handle it, and I can do it, whoever's running that organization will notice.” —Barack Obama

I love sharing this with interns in particular, as I find it’s great advice for those entering the choppy waters of early career territory. Especially when you’re still building your hard skills and finding your niche, that can-do attitude can take you very far. But I’d add one more line—whoever is in charge of the organization will notice your contributions if you work proactively to make your work known.

I’d been thinking a lot about this phenomenon and noticing it in real time at work, when fellow board member and HBR Audience Director Nicole D. Smith put a name to it—workplace visibility. In “How to Become More Visible at Work”, she and co-author Angela Cheng-Cimini define it as the trifecta of having your work “be noticed, acknowledged, and valued.”

Workplace visibility isn’t about standing out or showing off, it’s about getting the recognition that you deserve, and building a strong reputation, which will help you unlock bonuses, salary bumps, promotions, and more in the future. Beyond that, become more visible at work means that you have more influence at work, and by extension—a little bit more of a say in your work experience.

So, How Do I Become More Visible at Work?

There isn’t a “one and done” solution to becoming more visible at work. Instead, it’s about building in new habits that will increase your visibility over time. So here are 5 things you can start doing right now that will make your contributions more visible.

1. Do your best with every task entrusted to you. This is truly the basis for any successful early career experience. Whether you are asked to take notes on a call, or assist with developing a new series pitch, do the work to the best of your ability. As you develop a track record of getting things done right, your colleagues and supervisors will slowly begin to notice that you are a trustworthy and disciplined contributor. Paired with the following tips, you’re set up for success.
2. Use Meetings to Your Advantage Transform those endless Teams meetings into opportunities instead. If you are a part of all-hands meetings where program updates are routinely shared, ask your direct supervisor for an opportunity to highlight your contributions and discuss the new project you’ve been developing. When you’re not presenting, actively participate in Teams chats and discussions. Even a simple thumbs-up emoji reaction in the meeting chat shows you're engaged in the conversation.
3. Keep a Kudos Folder Even if your workplace isn't big on collecting monthly or quarterly work updates from you, you should begin tracking personal kudos and thank you notes in a brag folder on your desktop. Share any special feedback with your supervisor when appropriate, and keep track of the rest for yourself. This will boost your confidence and provide concrete evidence of your impact. Plus, come performance review season, you’ll have an organized folder of shiny highlights to pull on.
4. Embrace Challenges and Growth Step outside your comfort zone. Volunteer for projects and raise your hand in meetings. This showcases your initiative and willingness to learn. Signing up for a new challenge is often not the status quo, so simply by stepping up—you will become more visible at work.
5. Build Genuine Connections Everyone loves a team player. So as much as you can, try to intentionally network with colleagues, especially those who have a little more influence than you. Authenticity is key here, so focus on building genuine connections, not forcing relationships just to check a box. By consistently demonstrating your skills and building relationships, you'll naturally become more visible at work.

Bonus Tip! Take it Online

If the above steps seem a little daunting to you, you can practice growing your visibility online at first. Step up your LinkedIn game by sharing photos of behind-the-scenes moments at work and your reflections on the milestones you’re reaching. Once you get into a good rhythm, bring that same approach into your meetings, too! While you may be worried about bragging, remember you are your best advocate. This step will help you and your career in the long run.

More Work Resources to Help You Crush It at Work

• ?? Harvard Business Review | How to Become More Visible at Work
• ?? The Mel Robbins Podcast | Understanding Charisma and the “IT” Factor

Wrapping up

In case no one told you this today, you’re doing an amazing job, and I’m SO proud of you. ??

Remember, excelling in your early career is a marathon, not a sprint. And this is a no burn-out zone. Always remember that you work to live, not the other way around. Which brings me to my closing thoughts

—

It’s a Balancing act

As we head into the weekend, take some time to recharge and refuel for a productive week ahead. Get outside! Take a walk, unwind, and most importantly, take some time for yourself this weekend. You can only show up for others once you show up for yourself.

Quote of the Week:

Okay, Your Turn to Shine!

What workplace victories are you celebrating this week? Share them in the comments, and I might feature them next week!

Until next time, take care!

?? KK

Thank you for reading! Office Hours is a special edition of Red Letter Day, a blog about finding the balance between work and play. You can subscribe to the full blog at redletterday.substack.com