Overlooked but Not Unworthy: How to Make Your Value Known at Work

Rhea Horton
Feb 2
3 min read

Have you ever sat in a meeting, shared an idea, and watched it get ignored—only for someone else to say the same thing later and get all the credit? Or maybe you've been putting in the work, meeting deadlines, and going above and beyond… yet when it's time for promotions, your name never comes up?

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The good news? There are strategic ways to flip the script and finally get the recognition (and opportunities!) you deserve.

Let’s talk about it.

Being Overlooked (And How to Overcome It)

I find that working with clients who feel stuck in their career or feel undervalued, it’s due to them displaying great teamwork skills but not leadership skills. For instance, are you the go-to person on your team, always reliable, hardworking, and proactive? Sounds like great qualities that would lead to a promotion, right? In theory yes, but that’s not what will get you promoted. Those qualities make you invaluable in your role - as in, to STAY in your role.

They wouldn’t want to move you when you help that level role and team be as successful as you do. That’s when you hear these excuses when you want to go up for a promotion:

❌ “You’re doing great! Just keep at it.”

❌ “You’re a great team player, but we went with someone with more leadership experience.”

Instead, use key strategies that help people get noticed in the workplace. Here is what YOU can do:

1️⃣ Speak Up in Meetings (Yes, Even When It Feels Uncomfortable!)

If no one hears your ideas, they won’t know how valuable you are. Period.

How to Do This:

Be the first to speak. Research shows that people tend to remember whoever speaks first in meetings. Instead of waiting for the “perfect” moment, jump in early.
Use power phrases. Instead of saying “I think maybe we should consider…”, try “One strong approach would be…”. Confidence is key.
Repeat and reinforce your ideas. If someone echoes your suggestion without crediting you, jump back in: “I’m so glad that resonated! When I mentioned that earlier, I was thinking we could also…”

Pro Tips: Not comfortable speaking up in big meetings yet? Start in smaller team discussions or 1:1 conversations to build your confidence. Also, you can have prep meetings with your leader before the meeting to make sure you understand what is being discussed, and share your initial thoughts. This can go a long way with reinforcing your ideas with the leader of the group.

2️⃣ Build Relationships with Decision-Makers

Hard work alone doesn’t get you promoted — relationships do! If the people making decisions don’t know you, they won’t think of you when opportunities arise.

How to Do This:

Schedule casual check-ins. Don’t wait for performance reviews. Set up quick coffee chats (virtual or in-person) with key leaders in your organization.
Support their initiatives. Find ways to align with projects or goals that leadership cares about—this makes you visible in a strategic way. Offer to help them and check in on how things are going. If you show you care about their work, they will show more care about your work.
Seek mentorship or sponsorship. A mentor gives advice. A sponsor advocates for you when you’re not in the room. You need both. As you build these relationships, it will become easier to spot who can be a mentor versus who will advocate for your like a sponsor.

Pro Tip: If reaching out feels awkward, start by engaging with leaders’ LinkedIn posts or team-wide discussions before making the direct connection.

3️⃣ Keep Track of Your Wins (and Share Them!)

Most people assume that hard work speaks for itself—but in reality, you have to be your own biggest advocate. I know this can be challenging, but this is a must!

How to Do This:

Create a “Wins” folder. Keep a document (or email folder) where you track achievements, positive feedback, and project impact.
Speak up in performance reviews. Instead of saying “I worked on X project,” say “I led X project, which resulted in a 15% increase in efficiency.”
Share updates strategically. You don’t have to brag—frame it as a team success: “Excited to have contributed to [win]! Huge shoutout to the team for making it happen.”

Pro Tip: Sending monthly updates to your boss with highlights of what you’ve accomplished makes it easier for them to advocate for you when promotion discussions happen. As well as talk about them during your routine check-ins. Repetition helps them remember!

Time to Take Action

If you’re tired of being overlooked, the power to change that is in YOUR hands. Start with one small step today:

Which of these strategies will you try first? And if you’ve ever overcome workplace struggles like this, I’d love to hear what worked for you—let’s help each other win.