How to stand out at work (without shouting): a guide

Let’s talk about being visible at work.

I feel like that phrase sounds a little bit jargon-y and a little bit girlboss, so let’s dig into what it means to be visible at work and why it matters.

I hear from a lot of people that they are doing their jobs brilliantly, getting positive feedback from their manager and yet…they never progress. They don’t get promoted, or if they ask their manager to put them forward for a promotion they get brushed off with some BS about not quite being ready for it yet.

The reason for this is because, while your manager knows that you’re a good employee who doesn’t cause them any trouble, they can’t see you in another role, especially when you’re chasing a leadership position.

That is often down to the fact that you, and the skills you have that you know make you a great candidate for a promotion, are not visible. You’re not being seen.

And so, even though you’re doing amazing work and maybe even going above and beyond, no one notices.

Why is it important to be visible at work?

This is why it’s so important to be visible at work.

Because you can work as hard as you want, you can be the most talented person at your company - but none of it matters if no one notices.

This is also the reason why your colleagues, who may be less talented and hard-working, but shout about their achievements, are getting promoted.

Managers, directors and other people in charge of making the decisions at your company, are really busy. They are not going to research every person who may be qualified for a job opening and see that you do the best job.

They’re going to think of the people who they know have accomplished things, and those are the people who aren’t afraid to tell everyone about their achievements.

Unfortunately, “your work will speak for itself” is not true in the modern working world.

If you’re hearing this and shuddering at the thought of becoming a loudmouth show-off, don’t worry.

There are lots of ways you can become a master of self-promotion without growing an ego as big as the sun.

Here’s how.

Keep an achievement log

Okay, so this might sound overly simplistic, but it will genuinely help you out, especially when it comes to appraisals, job interviews and negotiating pay rises.

It’s as simple as it sounds: every time you achieve something, put it in a Google doc or a Word doc. An achievement could be as big as delivering a huge project or as small as tweaking a process to make it more efficient.

If you can, include how this has helped the company or supports one of the goals set for you at your last appraisal.

For example, delivering an upgrade to the company website that resulted in a 30% increase in people making a purchase or facilitating a department-wide meeting which helped achieve the goal your manager set of bringing usually separate teams together. Always include solid numbers if you can.

It avoids the awkwardness of answering questions about your own performance at appraisals and 1:1s with your manager, because you can refer to your achievement log to get an answer and it will give you a well of information to draw on for job applications and interviews.

About a year ago, I experienced bullying at work from a senior person at the company who called mine and my team’s competence into question any time she could. 

Because I keep an achievement log, I was able to disprove that and say “actually, I’ve managed and the team have delivered 10 projects already this year, which is about a 40% increase on last year” and I also had this under my belt in case she tried to get me fired.

Thankfully she is no longer with the company, but that achievement log really had my back at that time when my work was called into question.

Communicate

As I mentioned earlier, you don’t have to be a loudmouth to stand out at work.

But you do have to communicate.

What does this look like?

Well firstly, if you attend meetings and sit in silence the whole time, that needs to change. It’s time to start contributing.

I’ve mentioned this before, but a great way to get comfortable with speaking in meetings is to check the agenda beforehand and jot down some ideas, potential talking points or questions.

Then you’re not wracking your brain for something to say instead of actually paying attention to the meeting. Plus, if you’re listening to what’s being said, you’ll probably think of something to contribute off the cuff anyway.

Remember, there’s no such thing as a stupid question, and anyone who makes you feel that way is likely just on the defensive for whatever reason.

If even that is a bit much for you, follow up in writing. Send an email or Teams message thanking everyone for their time and confirming your next actions. You can also follow up once you’ve completed those actions.

You may think that sounds silly and unnecessary and maybe even a little bit self-important, but I promise you that it’s genuinely beneficial.

You’re making yourself and the work you do visible, and building a reputation for yourself as someone who communicates well and completes the work they say they will.

That goes surprisingly far.

Bring solutions, not problems

My manager at the first job I had after graduating taught me so much, but one of the best things he taught me was how to have a solutions-oriented mindset.

Every time I went to him with a problem, he would ask me what I thought we should do about it.

As a 22 year old, this was very annoying. I wanted him to tell me what to do about it! But he was teaching me to think of potential solutions when I encountered a problem instead of asking someone else to do it for me.

He was instilling this leadership mindset in me. A mindset where instead of running to my manager for help every time I stumbled across a problem, I was thinking of ways to solve it soon.

Okay Julia, thanks for the storytime. But how is this relevant to me? Well, this is a brilliant way to become visible at work.

Think about it. Firstly, if you can suggest solutions to issues that arise at work, whether day-to-day, in meetings or any other method of communication, you’ll build a reputation as a proactive problem solver who has the confidence to communicate their ideas.

All important things in leadership.

Adopt an “I’ll go first” mentality.

What is an “I’ll go first” mentality?

It is getting into the habit of putting yourself forward for opportunities to lead and/or do work that will develop your skills and experience in the career you want.

How will this contribute to you standing out at work? Well, not a lot of people volunteer for things! They wait to be asked, whether they want the opportunity or not.

It’s a great way to show that you’re dedicated and enthusiastic, and people will notice.

I do need to add a caveat to this one: don’t volunteer for any and all things that come up.

Will it contribute to the skills and experience you need to take the next step in your career or gain recognition that will help you to build your reputation with those who can help you progress?

If the answer is yes, go for it.

The key to standing out at work is not to be afraid of standing out. It sounds silly, but humans’ natural instinct is to want to blend in. Highlight your achievements, hone your communication skills and put your hand up, and you’re sure to stand out - no shouting required.