Get the Recognition You Deserve

"I Imagine this: You stay late at work,
consistently win accounts that your co-workers only dream of,
never miss deadlines, and never show up late – and to top it all
off, you finish even your worst projects successfully and ahead of
schedule.
You'd think that by doing all of this, you
would, at least once in a while, get thanks and recognition from
management?
Well, you wish.
Unfortunately, your boss is busy
dealing with a "problem" member of the team, and as a result, she
forgets to show any gratitude to her stars. That includes you.
Have you ever been in a situation like this?
Working hard and getting ignored by your boss can be rough. That's
why you sometimes have to take matters into your own hands.
Boasting of your own accomplishments can feel
awkward. But look at it this way: If your boss doesn't notice your
hard work, and you don't point it out to him or her, then what
happens when you ask for a raise? How will he or she know you're
ready for that promotion, or if you can handle that
huge-but-fascinating project?
Things don't have to be like that. We'll show
you how to get the recognition you deserve without looking like
you're seeking attention. Believe it or not, there is a way to do
this.
Step One: Decide What You Want
There are many types of recognition, so decide
what type you want.
Companies often thank staff with awards,
certificates, or bonuses. However, people often just want simple
praise. We want to know that our work is meaningful and that we've
made a difference. An "Employee of the Month" certificate, or a
cold, hard check doesn't always communicate that.
So, what exactly are you looking for? It's
important to really define this, because everyone wants something
different. Do you want a simple "thank you"? An award ceremony in
your honor? A raise?
Step Two: Define Why You Deserve Praise
Don't walk into your boss's office with no
advance preparation to say what a great job you've been doing.
Why? Firstly, it would seem odd. Then, if you're a bit nervous,
you might forget something important that you've done. You might
forget the help a co-worker gave you, and leaving out that person
could speak poorly of your character. Be sure to make yourself
look good, but also share credit where credit is due.
Make a list of the accomplishments you'd like
to discuss. Beside each one, list the value that accomplishment
has brought to the company.
Step Three: Praise Yourself
This is where you've got to get creative. You
know your boss and your business environment, so think of ways to
let your boss know how hard you've been working.
If you tell your boss directly, then do it
carefully and tactfully – in a private area. You know that list of
accomplishments you just created? Read that over a few times
before your meeting. As you talk, emphasize how you had help and
how your co-workers should be rewarded for their hard work as
well.
If this feels a little too much like bragging,
then think of ways to let your boss know what you're doing without
being so obvious or bold. For example, send your boss an email
every time you win a new account, or when you're finally able to
please your company's worst customer. These little "progress
reports" keep your actions in the open in a delicate,
not-too-obvious way.
You can also praise others in front of your
boss. By bringing their hard work and accomplishments to your
boss's attention, she may also notice the great job that you've been doing. Keep it genuine and honest, however. If you appear
insincere, then people may notice, and you may look bad. If you
have something good to say, then say it, but don't speak up if you
don't really mean it.

A Few Tips:

Look closely at your boss's
actions – he or she may be praising you, and you don't
even realize it. For example, let's say you spent hours
writing the annual message to shareholders, and your boss
only quickly glanced at it before passing it on to be
copied. Before you get upset, consider that her actions
may really say that she trusts you to do top-notch work,
and she doesn't have read every line to know you've done a
great job. Yes, a "thank you" for a job well done is nice,
but this kind of trust is also a compliment.

In your work environment, perhaps all the problem
behaviors get noticed, and all the really great ones seem
to be ignored. If so, then you may have to do something
bold to get management's attention. Tell your boss
honestly how members of the team need some recognition.
Keep the focus off yourself, and help your boss understand
how everyone would be more motivated if they just got a
little praise now and then.


Key Points
Although not everyone is comfortable talking about their
accomplishments, you might harm yourself if you don't speak up.
If your boss doesn't see the great work you've been doing, he or
she might give that promotion or special project to someone else
without knowing any better. It's up to you to prove that you can
handle the added responsibility – and to do that, your boss has to
know what you've already done.
Think of subtle ways to get your boss's attention by talking
privately, sending emails about small accomplishments, and
praising your teammates when he or she is around to hear it. Even
if you keep the focus off yourself, it may get him or her to
notice what you've been doing as well.

Apply This to Your Life
Ready to put this into action? Here are
some easy ways to use this tool in your life right now:

Begin by recognizing the
accomplishments of others. If you notice co-workers doing
something great, send them emails praising their efforts,
and send copies to your boss . This can show your boss that
you're leading by example.
Don't forget that your boss might need some praise and
recognition too. Send him or her an email when she's made a
difference in your day, and consider copying that email to
his or her boss.
If you're a team leader, keep your eyes open for
activities and co-workers that deserve praise. Whenever
someone does something that's earned a heartfelt "thanks,"
send that person an email and copy it to your boss.

These are just a few ways you can "raise
the bar" in your workplace to get other people thinking
about praise and recognition. When you recognize the efforts
of your team, you should steadily earn your own praise as
well.