Invisible work is killing your career.
You're working hard.
Delivering results.
Exceeding expectations.
Staying late.
But nobody's noticing.
Your work has limited impact.
Your opinions aren't valued in meetings.
Your craft stagnates without feedback.
Your boss overlooks you.
You get passed over for promotions.
The problem?
Your excellent work is completely invisible.
6 signs you're suffering from invisible work syndrome (and how to fix this) - courtesy of my friend Melody Olson:
- You're waiting to be discovered
Good work doesn't speak for itself.
It needs a megaphone.
💡 Tip: Show your work in 1:1s and meetings. Keep it short. Make it visual. - Decision makers are clueless about your contributions.
They impact your future but never see your contributions.
💡 Tip: Introduce yourself early in projects and tailor updates to what matters most to them. - Your communication buries the lead
You write War and Peace when they need a tweet.
💡 Tip: Be concise and focus on impact. Structure updates clearly for maximum clarity. - You're everyone's helper, no one's star
Always in the background, never in the spotlight.
💡 Tip: Aim for a mix of strategic and tactical tasks. Highlight your impact: "I did X and achieved Y." - Your wins only exist in your head
No documentation means no evidence.
💡 Tip: Write down key actions, decisions, and outcomes to make your impact visible. - You're confusing motion with progress
Saying "yes" to everything means excelling at nothing.
💡Tip: Prioritize the "definite yes" work that moves the needle.
The old way says "keep your head down and work hard."
The new way says "strategic visibility is an impact multiplier."
Stop hoping to be noticed.
Start ensuring you're seen.
Your career depends on it.
PS: Intent matters - do this to learn, scale the impact of your work, and support others.
