Führung: „Die Anerkennung für meine Arbeit bekommt jemand über mir“ – Das Leid der stillen Schaffer

Sophie Schütze has been working in her job for over seven years and often feels frustrated, but her complaints are mostly quiet. She explains that lack of recognition hampers her enthusiasm for the work and contributed to her near dismissal. Schütze's daily job in a public authority involves organizing, prioritizing, scheduling, making phone calls, checking document completeness, and arranging missing records.

She insists on maintaining high-quality work and meeting deadlines, but she is reluctant to share her achievements publicly. She believes her work is used, but recognition goes to others. Introverted employees, she says, should not become more vocal. She is hesitant to do so due to potential self-doubt about the quality of her work and lack of access to high-profile positions.

Unlike those who network or brainstorm, Schütze quietly works alone and gets overlooked. Introverts often prefer to stay unseen and do their work in silence, which often leads to them being underappreciated. While numerous career guides advise introverts to be more vocal, studies show that in companies, energetic, sociable, or dominant individuals tend to rise.

The coach Katja Schwalbach is skeptical about this approach, saying that our economy favors those who can present themselves well, overlooking those who quietly and diligently do their work. She advises companies to better understand introverts and help managers better support quiet, talented employees. Schwalbach sees a structural problem in that the economy favors those who can present themselves well, missing out on those who quietly and diligently do their work.

This should change, she believes, and it should start with managers understanding how silent workers operate. Introverts generate energy by going inward and withdrawing, which allows them to concentrate deeply and recharge. Quiet work often results in meticulous and detail-oriented performance. Meetings, on the other hand, drain their energy.

Introverts use various tactics that may be perceived as unsocial by colleagues, such as being punctual to avoid small talk during meetings. This doesn't mean they lack social skills or teamwork abilities. They simply prefer different forms of interaction. What managers can do to help silent workers feel more comfortable starts with small gestures, such as communicating meeting topics in advance to allow introverts to prepare.

It's also important to allow time for reflection and to give feedback and praise without overdoing it. Introverts need honest recognition of their work, even if it's not overly effusive. For example, Maria Weber, who works for a large service provider, rarely makes a fuss about her work but quietly advances issues or brings people together to start projects. A simple "thank you" from her superiors would be enough for her, but it rarely happens.