Feeling Underappreciated at Work? Here’s What to Do

Feeling underappreciated or undervalued at work is a common issue that many professionals encounter at some point in their career. These feelings can be disheartening, and may have a negative impact on your motivation and productivity. Thankfully, there are ways in which you can address this issue and enhance your overall job satisfaction. Here’s what to do if you feel underappreciated at work.

Assess Your Expectations

Before taking any action, it’s crucial to assess your expectations. Reflect on what kind of recognition you are seeking and whether these expectations are realistic given your role and the company culture. Sometimes our expectations can be influenced by external factors or comparisons with others, which might not be entirely fair. Consider asking yourself these questions:

• Are your expectations aligned with your job responsibilities?
• Are there specific achievements or milestones you believe warrant recognition?
• Have you communicated your expectations to your supervisor or team?

Understanding and aligning your expectations with your professional environment can help you approach the situation more effectively.

Document Your Accomplishments

One of the most effective ways to address feelings of underappreciation is to document your accomplishments. Keeping a record of your achievements not only helps in performance reviews or when asking for a raise or promotion, but also provides concrete evidence of your contributions. Create a detailed list of your accomplishments, including the following:

• Specific projects you’ve completed successfully
• Quantifiable results, such as increased sales or improved efficiency
• Instances where you’ve gone above and beyond your job description

Having this information readily available can bolster your confidence and serve as a valuable tool during discussions with your manager about recognition and career progression. If you’d like to learn more about tracking your accomplishments at work, check out our previous blog here.

Self-Motivate

While external recognition is important, self-motivation plays a crucial role in maintaining job satisfaction and productivity. Finding ways to motivate yourself can help bridge the gap when external appreciation is lacking. If you’re looking to boost your self-motivation, you may start by setting personal goals, as establishing your own goals can help provide a sense of accomplishment.

Another great strategy to self-motivate is celebrating your accomplishments. By acknowledging and celebrating even small successes, you’ll always feel motivated. Lastly, you may place special emphasis on the aspects of your job that you find most fulfilling and enjoyable. This will help you feel more excited about the tasks on your to-do list. Just don’t forget about the tasks that you find less exciting—they still need to be done too!

One on One Meetings

One-on-one meetings with your manager or supervisor are an excellent opportunity to discuss your feelings of underappreciation in a constructive manner. Approach these meetings with a clear agenda and focus on how recognition impacts your motivation and productivity. If you don’t have regular one-on-one meetings with your boss, you may ask to schedule one if necessary.

During a one-on-one meeting, consider sharing your recent successes. If you’ve been keeping track of your accomplishments, this will be much easier since you can simply refer to your records instead of having to remember every detail. You can also request feedback on specific tasks you’ve completed or your overall performance. If you express how feedback has a positive impact on your work, your boss might be more likely to provide regular feedback if they haven’t been doing so already.

Appreciate the Work of Others

One way to foster a culture of appreciation in your workplace is by recognizing the efforts and achievements of your coworkers. Showing appreciation to others can often lead to a reciprocal environment where recognition becomes more commonplace. You can express appreciation to your coworkers in the following ways:

• Acknowledging their contributions in team meetings
• Sending thank-you notes or messages
• Celebrating their successes publicly

By actively participating in a culture of appreciation, you can help create a more positive and supportive work environment for everyone.

Increase Your Visibility

In certain cases, feelings of underappreciation may stem from not being visible enough to those who are in a position to provide you with feedback. Increasing your visibility at work can help ensure that your contributions are noticed and valued. One of the best ways to increase your visibility is by taking the initiative. Whenever possible, volunteer for high-visibility projects so you have a better chance of being noticed.

Another way to increase your visibility is by looking for opportunities to present your work or ideas during relevant conversations or meetings. This might include asking a question during a meeting or sharing your opinion on the status of a project. Lastly, you might try networking within your organization and connecting with colleagues across different departments and levels to help increase your visibility.

Indeed, feeling underappreciated at work can lead to all kinds of problems. By taking a proactive approach you can navigate these feelings constructively while enhancing your work experience. Remember, fostering a culture of appreciation starts with individual actions, and your efforts can contribute to a more positive and supportive workplace for everyone.