Leistung sichtbar machen: Warum Fleiß allein nicht reicht: Wie Sie sich im Job abheben

Many people in a job feel that their diligent and meticulous work goes unnoticed while others are praised, rewarded or promoted. Employees should not assume that their hard work will eventually be recognized, as Stefanie Bickert, a job and career expert at the Indeed platform, explains. The key term here is visibility. It isn't about an unpleasant form of self-promotion, she notes. Rather, it's about making one's contribution tangible.

To stand out, Bickert advises focusing on what makes you unique. What can you do exceptionally well? What sets you apart from others? Identifying your unique selling points, whether it's specialization, deep industry knowledge, quick grasping ability, or soft skills like teamwork or organizational talent, is crucial. If you're unsure, consider whether you possess a unique skill set, deep expertise, the ability to quickly understand complex situations, or exceptional organizational skills.

In meetings, being too reserved can lead to invisibility. Bickert observes that the less you speak, the less likely people are to notice your contributions. Instead of waiting for the perfect innovative idea, Bickert recommends building on existing points, asking follow-up questions, or drawing connections to previous topics. However, it's essential to avoid underselling your work, such as saying "I'm not an expert, but..." or "Just thrown in there...".

Instead, use words like "A different approach would be..." or "I would suggest...". These phrases can immediately change how your contribution is perceived.

Understanding your goals is equally important. Being praised as diligent and reliable in discussions might lead you to be placed in a "reliable executor" category, rather than being trusted for strategic decisions. Knowing where you want to be in the company helps you understand how to be seen. Additionally, Bickert suggests linking your hard work with forward-thinking.

For example, "Thank you for acknowledging my consistent good work, but I also enjoy staying informed about future company initiatives and how I can contribute to them."

Finally, Bickert emphasizes the importance of refining your own story. Numbers and facts rarely stand out alone; stories do. To make your work visible, you should be able to tell the story of your work in a few sentences. This can be achieved using a "three-step update": what was the starting point of the project you're working on? What was the exciting detail in the project? And what was the result? Keeping this narrative in mind can make you more convincing in spontaneous discussions than simply listing completed tasks.