WINNING THE RECOGNITION YOU DESERVE

How to make yourself and your achievements more visible at work. by Jim
Owen

OK, so you're a solid, steady performer at work, but nobody seems to know
who you are. You're basically invisible even though your results can stand
up to anybody's. You don't get the plum assignments, the best trips, or the
boss's gratitude. What to do?

This plight is more common than many people realize. It's also a major
source of workplace frustration. According to Virginia Rehberg, a consultant
with the consulting firm Drake Beam Morin, "Your task in this situation is
easy to identify but harder to achieve: You have to raise your profile at
work. You have to be more visible, not just in the eyes of your bosses but
also within the entire company."

For starters, that often means showing more initiative, taking risks,
volunteering for tough assignments, and by doing what some workplace
counselors call "shining in the white space"--going above and beyond your
job description to accomplish something that your boss and the whole firm
will admire.

Another way to gain plaudits for your work is simply to document your
output, says Cathy Kennedy, vice president of Lee, Hecht & Harrison, a New
Jersey-based career development firm. "Some people keep a monthly summary of
the top 5 things they do each month which they can show to the boss if
necessary," Kennedy says. For example, marketing managers can show that
brochures were done early and under budget, sales managers can tally their
numbers, and so on. "This can help bring your boss up to date, and make him
take notice," Kennedy says. "And it can also give you a good feeling and
build self-esteem to see what you've actually done."

You can also play a larger "civic" role inside your company, advises
Rehberg, by joining high-profile committees, task forces, even charity
drives or golf tournaments. "Doing these things helps get you noticed, not
just in your group, but company-wide," she says.

Another way to showcase your talents and achievements is by writing about
them--literally. "You can gain visibility for your work by publishing
articles in trade journals, professional magazines, company newsletters,
even by getting interviewed in the local paper," Rehberg says. This helps
you build leverage with managers at your company, she adds.

Likewise, becoming active in external business groups and associations,
charities, and community groups can help beef up your profile which, in
turn, can give you the recognition and stature you need back in the office.
"This can also provide the side benefit of enlarging your personal network
if you should decide to look for a new job," says Rehberg.


Jim Owen [e-mail] is a freelance journalist who has written extensively for
newspapers and magazines for over a decade. He lives in Arlington, Virginia,
with his wife and three-year-old son.