Credit for a job done well
Discussion
Would appreciate advice please from the PH collective. I need help to start capitalising on my successes at work, moving forward in my career and achieving potential.
I've been at this place 2 years. I'm a skilled engineer. In a small team, with no management responsibilities, no staff under me.
Since joining I know I have made a huge improvement to our (business critical) systems. I've worked obsessively on lots and lots of little improvements that add up to a stable, reliable system, where once there was a flaky and fickle set-up. Things are measurably better than they were. It's obvious without even bothering to measure it. I'm not perfect, I don't know everything and have made some mistakes, but I've still created a ton of positive output, and I've enjoyed doing it, too.
Yet I don't see this being realised or accepted to the extent it should be. I have worked hard but very quietly. Afraid to draw attention to myself, afraid to rock the boat by self-promoting or by criticising the poor standards of others. Afraid to claim credit when I'm not perfect and I do have weaknesses. Afraid to challenge others, too willing to back down. I now am at a critical point, and I feel exposed and at risk. My hard work may soon be lost in the past. I will give up. Or, worse, someone else is going to step in and take the credit for the work. How can I avoid this happening?
I come from a very quiet but hard-working and skilled background. Not comfortable with conflict and inclined to help others even if I am sure they will screw me over. The question for PH is how do I adjust to a modern competitive office environment? How do I turn my successes into respect? How do I play my strengths and not let my weaknesses be used against me? Preferably without making my friends hate me and without making a dick of myself.
Answered are willingly received. Or maybe you are in the same boat as me? Or you are the guy failing to recognise me?
I've been at this place 2 years. I'm a skilled engineer. In a small team, with no management responsibilities, no staff under me.
Since joining I know I have made a huge improvement to our (business critical) systems. I've worked obsessively on lots and lots of little improvements that add up to a stable, reliable system, where once there was a flaky and fickle set-up. Things are measurably better than they were. It's obvious without even bothering to measure it. I'm not perfect, I don't know everything and have made some mistakes, but I've still created a ton of positive output, and I've enjoyed doing it, too.
Yet I don't see this being realised or accepted to the extent it should be. I have worked hard but very quietly. Afraid to draw attention to myself, afraid to rock the boat by self-promoting or by criticising the poor standards of others. Afraid to claim credit when I'm not perfect and I do have weaknesses. Afraid to challenge others, too willing to back down. I now am at a critical point, and I feel exposed and at risk. My hard work may soon be lost in the past. I will give up. Or, worse, someone else is going to step in and take the credit for the work. How can I avoid this happening?
I come from a very quiet but hard-working and skilled background. Not comfortable with conflict and inclined to help others even if I am sure they will screw me over. The question for PH is how do I adjust to a modern competitive office environment? How do I turn my successes into respect? How do I play my strengths and not let my weaknesses be used against me? Preferably without making my friends hate me and without making a dick of myself.
Answered are willingly received. Or maybe you are in the same boat as me? Or you are the guy failing to recognise me?
Have you read the Generation Y thread in the Lounge yet? Might give you all the insight you need regarding what your management likely think!
If it were me, I would pull your boss aside and have a frank but pleasant discussion about it. Ask him for his thoughts and go from there. Not easy to but you have to take charge of your situation.
Go get em tiger!
If it were me, I would pull your boss aside and have a frank but pleasant discussion about it. Ask him for his thoughts and go from there. Not easy to but you have to take charge of your situation.
Go get em tiger!
Well it appears you lack little by way of confidence in your abilities and positive impact you've had.
If the rest of your work colleagues don't see things this way you are always going to struggle to change their perceptions of what you are and what you do.
Get another job. Seriously.
The best and quickest way by far to develop your career is to move on. I've always reckoned that you're going to learn 90% of a 'job' in the first 12 months. The rest takes another year. So having been there two years, and if you're as keen to progress as you say, you need to move on and upwards.
Also, if you're not feeling the love where you are, move on. If you're as good as you think you are you should be able to do this relatively easily and effectively.
If the rest of your work colleagues don't see things this way you are always going to struggle to change their perceptions of what you are and what you do.
Get another job. Seriously.
The best and quickest way by far to develop your career is to move on. I've always reckoned that you're going to learn 90% of a 'job' in the first 12 months. The rest takes another year. So having been there two years, and if you're as keen to progress as you say, you need to move on and upwards.
Also, if you're not feeling the love where you are, move on. If you're as good as you think you are you should be able to do this relatively easily and effectively.
Some good advice there for what is quite a common scenario; we all want to be recognised more for our efforts but rarely get that recognition we feel we deserve. This is very normal, sadly, so do not take it too personally. I would keep doing what you are doing, learning and reflecting and continuing to improve matters in your role. I would ensure I captured this impact on my CV whilst it was fresh in my mind and would always be on the look out for the next opportunity if you are ambitious.
One small tip would be to seek formal feedback via your annual appraisal and from those around you every 3 years via a 360 degree review; these processes give others an opportunity to give you that feedback you desire. Just be prepared if it is not as good as you had hoped it would be; not many of us see ourselves as other see us.
Good luck!
One small tip would be to seek formal feedback via your annual appraisal and from those around you every 3 years via a 360 degree review; these processes give others an opportunity to give you that feedback you desire. Just be prepared if it is not as good as you had hoped it would be; not many of us see ourselves as other see us.
Good luck!
Pentoman said:
criticising the poor standards of others.
Pentoman said:
I now am at a critical point, and I feel exposed and at risk. My hard work may soon be lost in the past. I will give up. Or, worse, someone else is going to step in and take the credit for the work. How can I avoid this happening?
Any good manager will see this and ask questions. It's a big no-no,and says you're insecure. A great manager will surround themselves with people better than they are at individual things to build a good overall team. There's nothing wrong with being an EnablerIn short, it sounds like you're not ready yet and need training and help to get you where you want to go.
Where actually is that anyway? Your opening line is middle management bulls
t - do you want to be management and earn some bigger bucks, are you glory hunting or what? 
There is some good advice written above on this thread.
You mention in your OP that you are "afraid to take credit when you are not perfect" - what does this mean? Do you mean you are afraid to take credit for the improvements that you have made because you think that you do not deserve credit, or are you saying that you do not feel comfortable taking credit for when you have not delivered exactly what was expected of you?
Whichever way you answer this question will tell us a great deal about and help you achieve what you want to achieve. If you feel that you do not deserve credit, then why should anyone else?
If you answered the question with the latter response, then recognition of work is a two way street. The best employees take responsibility for their actions, good or bad that is irrelevant.
You say that you have been responsible for various improvements for the overall running of the system, correct? If so, I presume that these are a) quantifiable and b) you have a record of this? In your situation, I would show some initiative to the senior members and create an annual improvement report detailing the changes and improvements that have been installed and how and why these have improved the system. I would then include some further improvements or areas of observation that could be of interest.
Essentially, do not make a case for yourself against the weakness of the others, rather make a case for the improvement that you have contributed too. Don't be afraid to include the work of others that have contributed to the success of the project.
Chris
You mention in your OP that you are "afraid to take credit when you are not perfect" - what does this mean? Do you mean you are afraid to take credit for the improvements that you have made because you think that you do not deserve credit, or are you saying that you do not feel comfortable taking credit for when you have not delivered exactly what was expected of you?
Whichever way you answer this question will tell us a great deal about and help you achieve what you want to achieve. If you feel that you do not deserve credit, then why should anyone else?
If you answered the question with the latter response, then recognition of work is a two way street. The best employees take responsibility for their actions, good or bad that is irrelevant.
You say that you have been responsible for various improvements for the overall running of the system, correct? If so, I presume that these are a) quantifiable and b) you have a record of this? In your situation, I would show some initiative to the senior members and create an annual improvement report detailing the changes and improvements that have been installed and how and why these have improved the system. I would then include some further improvements or areas of observation that could be of interest.
Essentially, do not make a case for yourself against the weakness of the others, rather make a case for the improvement that you have contributed too. Don't be afraid to include the work of others that have contributed to the success of the project.
Chris
There is some good advice written above on this thread.
You mention in your OP that you are "afraid to take credit when you are not perfect" - what does this mean? Do you mean you are afraid to take credit for the improvements that you have made because you think that you do not deserve credit, or are you saying that you do not feel comfortable taking credit for when you have not delivered exactly what was expected of you?
Whichever way you answer this question will tell us a great deal about and help you achieve what you want to achieve. If you feel that you do not deserve credit, then why should anyone else?
If you answered the question with the latter response, then recognition of work is a two way street. The best employees take responsibility for their actions, good or bad that is irrelevant.
You say that you have been responsible for various improvements for the overall running of the system, correct? If so, I presume that these are a) quantifiable and b) you have a record of this? In your situation, I would show some initiative to the senior members and create an annual improvement report detailing the changes and improvements that have been installed and how and why these have improved the system. I would then include some further improvements or areas of observation that could be of interest.
Essentially, do not make a case for yourself against the weakness of the others, rather make a case for the improvement that you have contributed too. Don't be afraid to include the work of others that have contributed to the success of the project.
Chris
You mention in your OP that you are "afraid to take credit when you are not perfect" - what does this mean? Do you mean you are afraid to take credit for the improvements that you have made because you think that you do not deserve credit, or are you saying that you do not feel comfortable taking credit for when you have not delivered exactly what was expected of you?
Whichever way you answer this question will tell us a great deal about and help you achieve what you want to achieve. If you feel that you do not deserve credit, then why should anyone else?
If you answered the question with the latter response, then recognition of work is a two way street. The best employees take responsibility for their actions, good or bad that is irrelevant.
You say that you have been responsible for various improvements for the overall running of the system, correct? If so, I presume that these are a) quantifiable and b) you have a record of this? In your situation, I would show some initiative to the senior members and create an annual improvement report detailing the changes and improvements that have been installed and how and why these have improved the system. I would then include some further improvements or areas of observation that could be of interest.
Essentially, do not make a case for yourself against the weakness of the others, rather make a case for the improvement that you have contributed too. Don't be afraid to include the work of others that have contributed to the success of the project.
Chris
You need to learn to manage expectations, think scotty off star trek, you need to basically learn to lie to create a positive perception of yourself. Start off small and build it up as you get practiced at it, pay attention to how other people do it and copy them.
It would also be worth keeping a diary of what you achieve (why they don't teach this stuff in school/college I will never know) its both good for performance reviews and your CV. Stuff you think is inconsequential might be important to someone else, so if your not sure whether to make a note of it, make a note of it.
No one is perfect or irreplaceable, but everyone can sell themselves better.
You perhaps could also do with find a 'mentor' to give you some support and guidance with developing the skills for a the bullst in a business environment.
ETA - Always think PROFIT, that's what a companies main aim is, so if you can quantify anything you do in terms of PROFIT or some other important business thing (Quality, Customer Service, Productivity etc)
It would also be worth keeping a diary of what you achieve (why they don't teach this stuff in school/college I will never know) its both good for performance reviews and your CV. Stuff you think is inconsequential might be important to someone else, so if your not sure whether to make a note of it, make a note of it.
No one is perfect or irreplaceable, but everyone can sell themselves better.
You perhaps could also do with find a 'mentor' to give you some support and guidance with developing the skills for a the bulls
t in a business environment.ETA - Always think PROFIT, that's what a companies main aim is, so if you can quantify anything you do in terms of PROFIT or some other important business thing (Quality, Customer Service, Productivity etc)
Edited by Foliage on Monday 31st March 16:26
Edited by Foliage on Monday 31st March 16:26
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