When it comes to your role in the office, you think of yourself like oxygen. It might seem conceited, but it’s true.
You’re an undeniably important piece of the puzzle. You work hard on a consistent basis, and everybody on your team needs you in order to keep ticking along. But, here’s the frustrating part: They don’t realize it. And, it’s not often you actually get recognized (or even thanked) for everything you’re contributing.
After all, when’s the last time you woke up in the morning and thought, “Thank you, oxygen, for keeping me going today!”? Probably never.
Needless to say, you’re at your wit’s end in the office and are ready to stand up and take some credit for all of the value you’re bringing to the table.
But, how can you do that without coming off like the Ron Burgundy or Kanye West of your workplace? Here are four important things you’ll need to do to make sure you get the recognition you deserve—without seeming like an attention-seeking narcissist.
1. Be an Active Participant
One of the most frequent times when you might find yourself sliding under the radar without an ounce of credit is when you’re working on a team project. With so many cooks in the kitchen, it becomes all too easy for your contributions to go totally unnoticed.
However, you won’t help matters if you refuse to be an active participant in team meetings and discussions. If you perpetuate a reputation as the quiet wallflower who would rather zone out in those sessions—rather than speak up with your ideas and updates—it becomes even easier for people to assume that you’re completely uninvolved.
So, remember to use your voice and loop your team members in on all that you’re working on. That simple act of staying present will work wonders in ensuring that you get credit where credit is due.
2. Recognize Teamwork (Without Sacrificing Yourself)
Speaking of teams, we can all be our own worst enemies when it comes to accepting praise for team efforts. When your boss or another colleague compliments you on the quality of that group project, you instantly catch yourself saying something self-deprecating like, “Thanks! But, I had nothing to do with it—it was all Jason and Melissa who pulled it off!”
Your attempt at being humble is admirable. But, why do you feel the need to throw yourself under the bus in the process?
Instead, you should—without a doubt—still recognize the work of the team, while still giving a subtle pat on the back to yourself.
What does this look like? Well, when your supervisor compliments you on that big report you and your group assembled, you’d say something like, “Thanks! I had a great time pulling together the graphics for that. But, Jason and Melissa were instrumental in drafting the summaries.”
Much better, right?
3. Stick Up For Yourself
So, what if someone in the office is blatantly taking credit for work that you completed? Your first inclination might be to clench your jaw, ball your fists, and stifle a scream (and, by all means, do that!).
However, when you’re done letting out your frustration, it’s time to stick up for yourself and go after the credit you deserve. If there’s a culprit in the office who repeatedly seems to slap his or her name on the work you’re completing, it might be time to have a serious conversation with your supervisor about the issue.
Or, if you’re feeling particularly courageous, you can always stake your claim in the heat of the moment—right when that pesky credit-stealing is happening. When your boss compliments Susan on the presentation slides she put together for your meeting and Susan just smiles and nods, there’s nothing wrong with speaking up and saying, “Whoops, sorry for the misunderstanding! I was the one who created the slides for today’s meeting.”
Yes, it can feel a little, “Me, me, me!”—particularly if you’re used to letting things like that slide. But, sometimes you need to gather your courage and be your own advocate in the office.
4. Dish Out Compliments
If you’re not feeling quite aggressive enough to pull off such a forward approach, this can be a more subtle way to get the recognition you’ve earned.
Think about this: What do you feel like you need to do when somebody pays you a genuine compliment? Chances are, you feel pressured to bounce one right back.
Why not use this subconscious urge to your advantage? No, this compliment doesn’t need to be paid to the person who directly stole credit for your work—but, it’s best if you offer praise to someone who actually knows the work was yours.
So, waltz up to Lucas and tell him what a great job you think he did on that recent sales report. More than likely, he’ll say something like, “Thanks! I loved your presentation slides in today’s meeting, by the way!” And, there you have it—recognition that the work was indeed yours.
Sneaky and a little juvenile? Yes. But, effective? Definitely.
Not receiving credit for the things you worked hard on is frustrating at best. But, that doesn’t mean you just need to roll over and take it. Instead, implement these four strategies, and you’re sure to get credit where credit is due!
