"Under the Radar: Why quiet achievers often miss the promotion boat"

Quietly overachieving: The introverted paradox

Throughout my career, I focused on quietly chipping away at my work and hoping that my effort and contribution eventually get recognised.

I avoided highlighting my achievements, or talking about my goals and ambitions in fear of appearing self-absorbed or boastful.

Shoved aside personal goals, physical and mental wellbeing, and my relationships were all a price I was paying in hope of being recognised as the star performer and a leadership potential.

On the flip side, there wasn’t much reward, or recognition. I was overlooked for opportunities and did not feel truly appreciated for my contribution.

In one of my roles, despite the relentless effort, a peer got promoted to lead our team, without me being given an opportunity to put my hat in the ring.

I felt that I was a great candidate to lead the team, and thought I demonstrated that by going above and beyond and always being there to help the team. Although happy for my colleague, I felt resentful that my efforts went un-acknowledged.

"I didn’t know you had an appetite to lead the team", was my manager's response when I voiced my disappointment with not being considered.

What I didn’t realise then, I was undercutting my own success by not talking about what I wanted, not ensuring the leadership qualities are truly showcased, and I lacked a strong voice.

Quiet achievers are a paradox in the professional world. Our dedication and hard work are unrivaled, yet we often fade into the background when the limelight shines.

It dawned on me that self-promotion is a non-negotiable aspect of career advancement. In this article, I will share with you why quiet achievers often find themselves invisible in their careers, despite their huge potential and bold ambitions.

Read on.

The quiet achiever's dilemma

As an introvert, it’s likely that you are relatively self-aware and know that you have a lot of value to offer. You undoubtedly bring strengths to the table, however in the world that favours extraverts, it can be incredibly frustrating and disappointing when your true value is overlooked and potential unrecognised.

Here are 5 reasons why as a quiet achiever you might have missed career opportunities in the past:

1/ You pedestal modesty

Many of us tend to believe that our work will speak for itself. However, in a professional environment filled with endless voices and distractions, it's easy for these "self-speaking" accomplishments to go unnoticed. Imagine your work as a solo violinist on a bustling city street. Without an amplifier, the melody can be lost in the noise. That's what happens when your work isn't amplified amongst all other competing voices. Being modest doesn’t mean you have to be invisible.

2/ You overemphase teamwork

Introverts often operate under the mantra that 'there's no 'I' in team', dedicating ourselves wholly to collaborative success. While it's valuable to view successes as team victories, it can sometimes overshadow your individual contributions. Don’t let your unique efforts go unseen in the collective success narrative! You can give accolades where they’re due and still highlight your own role in the team success.

3/ You don’t utilise networking

The preference for deep, one-on-one connections can mean that quiet achievers miss out on opportunities to build broader networks. These networks often play a vital role in presenting with opportunities and having someone advocate for you when you’re not in the room. 'Who you know' can sometimes trump 'what you know,' and the trick is to be top-of-mind when opportunities or promotion discussions come about. Keeping in touch with your network is just as important as building it.

4/ You don’t share your insights

Sharing insights and experiences, either through conversations, meetings or insightful content, is often a great way to gain visibility and demonstrate a depth of thinking. As a quiet achiever, you can likely relate to the scenario of having a great idea or a critical question, but staying silent - dismissing it as silly or not wanting to come across as a know-it-all. Your reflective nature is your asset, and your thoughtful ideas carry weight. Use them to join the conversation and add value.

5/ You underestimate personal branding

We all have a brand, whether we recognise it or not, and it pays to be intentional about it. You can influence how others perceive you and what opportunities you might be considered for by carefully crafting and consistently communicating what you stand for, what you offer and what you want. Personal branding can seem intimidating and inauthentic to quiet achievers. It doesn’t have to be, and leaving it to chance and letting the ‘work speak for itself’ no longer does it!

Don’t become the invisible workhorse

Quietly striving and letting your contributions fade into the background is not a great career growth strategy. You might be unwittingly undercutting your own visibility and success in the process.

Recognizing these roadblocks is the first step toward overcoming them. The power lies in blending your innate strengths with strategic actions to gain visibility and build a supportive network.

Be intentional about identifying and overcoming your barriers and take responsibility for the outcomes you get in your career. If you’re ready to shine the light on your achievements, and want to do it in a more subtle way, make sure to read my recent article, ‘Quietly Compelling: 15 subtle ways you can promote yourself even as a quiet achiever.’

Whatever you do, keep showing up for you.

Kamila

?? Subscribe to “Quietly Brilliant” monthly Newsletter – packed with tips, insights, and success stories on #career, #success, #confidence, #womenempowerment, and #quietachievers. Check out other articles on related topics:

‘Quietly Compelling: 15 subtle ways you can promote yourself even as a quiet achiever.’

Are you selling yourself short? The art of self-promotion.

Be your own marketing team: How to build a killer personal brand

7 honest lessons from my 1st year in business that you can apply in your career

Growth mindset alone will not get you success!

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