5 Ways to Get Recognized: A Leadership Coach's Strategic Approach

Getting recognized in the workplace is the ambition of growth-minded professionals; we aspire for a promotion, stretch assignment, select program, special award, etc. Meaningful recognition, though, isn't just about tenure or performing well on occasion—it's a strategic endeavor that requires consistent demonstration of readiness and value over time. Leading yourself well is critical to getting recognized. To be sure, fulfilling your current job requirements is not enough to meaningfully get recognized. Decision makers are naturally uncomfortable highlighting unproven talent, so those who get recognized are usually rockstars. Rockstars master their current role day in and day out while also consistently stretching to the next level of work.

If you aspire to get recognized in a meaningful way, start now elevating your performance and demonstrating your potential for greater responsibility. In this month’s blog post, I share 5 ways to get recognized so you can strategically position yourself for that next career step.

Ambition

Why do you want to get recognized and would your recognition also benefit the organization?

• Explore potential roles to gauge your readiness and next steps.

• Aspire for opportunities that excite you and you deem worth winning.

• Communicate your ambitions to decision-makers and ask for their advice on your climb.

• Find the middle ground of persistence for communicating your ambition.

Knowledge

Do you have the credentials and expertise to differentiate yourself from both internal and external candidates?

• Understand the organizational criteria for the recognition you are pursuing.

• Volunteer for challenging projects and additional responsibilities to obtain the experience (or transferrable experience) needed.

• Stay up to date on industry trends, changes in skillsets, and organizational priorities.

• Demonstrate your learning agility by continually seeking to improve and expand your knowledge in relevant areas.

Reputation

Is what you are known for within your team and organization what the next level needs?

• Consistently solve problems and seek opportunities for improvement within yourself and your organization.

• Maximize your contributions by delivering results that exceed expectations and minimize even eliminate inefficiencies.

• Maintain a positive presence in the workplace with integrity, punctuality, confidentiality, and personal organization.

• Demonstrate your commitment to what matters so you earn the trust and confidence of those around you.

Network

Who do you know and who knows you that matter for your next step?

• Cultivate relationships by adding value across departments and levels.

• Be a team player, actively contributing to collaborative efforts, to help others succeed.

• Seek out mentors and sponsors who will advocate for your advancement.

• Engage in the culture to garner the support and respect of your peers and decision makers.

Opportunity

What does the organization need right now, and do they see you as capable of fulfilling that need?

• Showcase your unique strengths compared to internal and external candidates.

• Learn about the process, organization, and players from observing other recognitions.

• Seek and address feedback to demonstrate your adaptability and growth potential.

• When the opportunity becomes available, ask for it, officially apply, and thoughtfully prepare for any next steps.

Conclusion

There are no guarantees in life, especially not with getting recognized at work, but experience has shown that opportunity favors the prepared. Earning recognition means you have a resume of achievements that matter to the organizational goals, you consistently demonstrate mastery in your current role, you’re already contributing and investing at the next level, and you’ve earned the trust and respect of those around you. Recognition is generally earned based on both consistent performance and potential.

Getting recognized demands strategic foresight, consistent effort, and a proactive approach to self-improvement and organizational alignment. Elements on the path to recognition can vary depending on your stage of career and specialization. By investing in all 5 of these elements: ambition, knowledge, reputation, network, and opportunity, you can position yourself as a compelling candidate for recognition within your organization.

Remember, each step you take towards enhancing your skills and visibility contributes to building a strong foundation for future career growth. Keep aiming high, learning continuously, and demonstrating your value at every opportunity. Stay prepared and committed over time, so you are recognized when the opportunity opens.

As a leadership coach, I coach growth-minded professionals to lead well, get recognized, and thrive.

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