Why Your Work Won’t Speak For Itself – And What To Do Instead

Does this sound familiar?

You do a good job but the recognition you want hasn’t materialised. You feel frustrated, overlooked and under-valued.

You’re told ‘put yourself out there’ and ‘be more visible’ but you’re reluctant to do that. You hate the idea of selling yourself. It’s uncomfortable to talk about your achievements - you’re afraid of seeming arrogant.

So you decide to let the work speak for itself. You hope for a tap on the shoulder from someone offering an opportunity to progress. Your frustration builds as you watch people less talented than you get promoted.

I get it – I’ve been there. So have many of my clients.

There’s someone in my Rise programme who is ready to take on a senior leadership role. He’s qualified, experienced and confident. Yet he keeps being overlooked. He’s angry that the culture he works in rewards people who don’t hesitate to talk themselves up. His quieter approach is no less effective – it might even be more so – but his career has stalled. He watches in frustration as people with no qualms about promoting themselves leapfrog over him and bag the more senior roles.

Here's what you can do about it

It’s hard not to fly under the radar when you don’t like being the centre of attention. And you don’t want to come across as boastful. Your natural style is reserved and unassuming so the idea of selling yourself fills you with dread. It’s completely at odds with who you are.

But if you do nothing to get yourself noticed you’ll be waiting a long time for that promotion (if it ever comes).

There’s a simple shift you can make to put yourself out there in a way that feels more comfortable:

Show, don’t tell.

You don’t have to tell people why you’re brilliant and everything you’ve achieved. Show them instead.

Think for a moment about what actors do to get a part. They don’t sit around waiting for the call. They create a showcase to prove their acting ability. It helps talent agents see how they could fit into the entertainment industry.

It’s not enough for you to be a good actor in your current job. You also need to showcase your talents and audition for the job you want next.

You can do that by demonstrating your ability to operate at a more senior level. For example, you could volunteer for a project above your pay grade. You could offer to present the results of your team’s project to the board. Or you could suggest ways to solve a problem that’s outside your remit but you know the company is grappling with.

The difference between expecting your work to speak for itself and ‘show, don’t tell’ is a subtle one. Neither of them need you to talk explicitly about yourself.

One involves sitting back and waiting for opportunities to arrive. The other requires you to take proactive steps to showcase what you can do.

Be strategic and intentional about what you want people to know about you. Then find ways to communicate that through action. Otherwise you’ll be waiting for a tap on the shoulder forever.

Over to you

What do you think? Will doing a good job get you the recognition you deserve? Or do you need to position yourself for the next role? If you did one thing to showcase your talents, what would it be?

Want more like this?

Sign up below to receive stories, resources and occasional offers to help you succeed.