Time to Shine...

We all have a desire to be acknowledged for our hard work and our successes.  The harsh reality is that many of our proudest accomplishments can go unnoticed.  This isn’t because people are insensitive and certainly shouldn’t be seen as a lack of respect, but most of us feel that we are not valued when others don’t notice or comment on our acheivements.   Especially when they are hard won, or took a lot of extra effort. We all hope that our good work will speak for itself, but the truth of the matter is, bosses and co-workers are busy, just like you are.  They spend most of the day with their heads down and their inboxes full, hoping their bosses will notice them too.

It's been proven by study after study that companies that regularly recognize their employees have higher profits (a 28 percent increase in earnings per share over a 12-month period, according to a global workforce study). Yet only 12 percent of employees say they often receive appreciation for great work. Recognition is always encouraged, and I will always be talking about this when I discuss optimal leadership habits, but moving the needle on this is not likely.  So what can you do on the receiving end, when you are not getting the recognition you deserve and you feel your best efforts are going unnoticed? 

Being noticed and valued for your professional contribution is important, but most of us steer clear of anything smelling like self-promotion. We all have in our head, that unseemly example of “that guy” or "that woman” who shamelessly boasts and panders to bosses and customers, completely ruining this for the rest of us.  The truth is, self-promotion is not just a good idea, it is good business.  Having your boss, your client or your co-workers understand your contributions and your capabilities is very important to doing your best work and advancing your career.  So how can you pull this off without seeming arrogant, conceited, overly-political or “jerk-like”?  

Here are some of my tips for sharing your successes gracefully:

•  Share credit and do it publicly.  Congratulating your team for success including the details of what was accomplished elevates you as well.  After all, it happened under your watch; you will seem graceful and plugged in.  No need to discuss exactly what you contributed yourself.  It will be assumed that you were part of the story. 

• Explain your challenges.  There is an often quoted MIT paper by N. Nelson and J, Sherman titled: Nobody Ever Gets Credit for Fixing a Problem that Never Happened". This is absolutely true.  It is a great practice to share your challenges with your boss and others--especially after they have been resolved.  When someone asks you how it is going, begin with the good news that things are going well and then perhaps add that it wasn’t the case a week or a month ago when the order was in jeopardy or the system crashed.  Then, describe what you did when you turned things around and then share that you are really happy that things are back on track.  High performing people often make it look so easy that they don’t get credit for their creativity and extra efforts. 

• Talk about your big wins with enthusiasm. Few of us like to describe ourselves as sales people. But the reality is that we are all sales people, selling ourselves and building our reputations for better or worse. In his book,  To Sell is Human, Daniel Pink describes the importance of influencing others in all career paths and says “… In ways we have scarcely realized we have all ended up in sales.”  It is personally engaging to describe your latest wins with enthusiasm.  I will always tell my clients about other projects I am working on.  I talk about being excited and thrilled that these endeavors are going well.  I share that I can’t wait to finish them or that I am so happy with the way things turned out.  Sharing these positive experiences in this way is intimate and personal and the enthusiasm is contagious. 

• Know your audience.  As with most communication strategies, it is important to tailor your message to your audience. It’s not enough to say “You will appreciate this”, if they walk away saying “what in the world did that have to do with me?”   Peggy Klaus, author of Brag! the Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It  says it well “If you are preoccupied with presenting a perfect image to the world, you project so much self-absorption that you miss the important opportunities to connect with others”.

Be proud of your hard work.  Help your boss to understand your efforts and contributions. In the not too distant future you will likely be discussing your performance in a formal process.  Trust me when I say that most bosses really want to do a good job preparing for this conversation. So, when you are shooting the breeze with your boss in the next week, start the conversation by saying “I can’t believe this year is over already”…. Then, tell them what you are so happy about, what turned out well, what you are proud of! And then, what you hope to accomplish next year.  You will be amazed how easy this is!

Keep in mind, as famed Cardinal pitcher “Dizzy” Dean once said, “It ain’t bragging if you can back it up!” 

imagecredit: stuffpoint.com