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 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.
