How to get recognition at work (without losing yourself)

Read time: 4 mins

Let’s talk about recognition.

A lot of advice about “standing out at work” skips a step.
It assumes you’re already visible. Already confident. Already in the right rooms.

But what if you’re just starting out?
What if no one’s calling on you in meetings?
What if your ideas only seem to land when someone else says them louder?

Recognition isn’t always about working harder.
Sometimes, it’s about being seen in the first place.

And if you’re young, new, or from an underrepresented background, that visibility can feel earned, not given.

So in this edition, I want to offer two reminders about recognition when you’re still building your voice:

1. Doing good work is step one
We’re told, “Keep your head down and the results will speak for themselves.”
But results don’t talk. People do.

You can be excellent and still overlooked.
Not because you lack value but because people only notice what they’re paying attention to.

So make it easier for them to pay attention.

Share progress before it’s perfect.
Speak up about what you’re learning.
Loop your manager in on what’s working not just when there’s a problem.

It’s not bragging. It’s visibility.
And it matters.

2. Don’t chase recognition from people who can’t see you.
Not everyone will “get” you.
Some managers don’t know how to support early-career talent.
Some colleagues will underestimate you until someone else validates your work.
Some environments reward the loudest voice, not the strongest contribution.

That’s not a reflection of your worth.
It’s a reflection of where you are.

If you’re doing great work and getting silence in return, don’t internalise it document it.

Keep receipts. Track wins. Build a story.
So when the right opportunity comes, you have the evidence to match.

And in the meantime? Find people who do see you.
Mentors. Friends. Colleagues who remember what it’s like to be underestimated.

Recognition is nice. But it’s not the only sign you’re on the right path.

You don’t need to shout to be respected.
You don’t need to twist yourself into a version they prefer.

What you need is to keep showing up with intention, clarity, and care for your own growth.

Recognition will come.

And when it does, you’ll know it’s because you built something real not because you played a part.

🟩 If this helped, forward it to someone who’s still learning how to be seen without shrinking themselves.
🟩 Got a recognition story of your own? Hit reply — I’d love to hear it.

– Mawuena