During my talk on #AI For Project Management at PMI conference last week, I was asked ‘How do project managers get the recognition they deserve?’ – great question!
I used to struggle with this a lot. Early in my career, I found speaking up in meetings difficult! Thinking in my head ‘must speak, must speak, must speak’, waiting for the right moment that never comes…
To answer the question, I go back to my experience and tips from a great book “Self-Promotion For Introverts” by Nancy Ancowitz.
Here’s some quick tips I’ve used to help get recognition for work:
1) Balance time spent doing with time spent thinking about what you’re doing. Take action. Create. Ask questions.
2) Keep a log of your accomplishments, wins, successes, glowing performance reviews. Take stock of what you do well.
3) Practice talking about your accomplishments, succinctly. Build muscle memory for saying them out load. Affirmations also work well.
4) Speak-up in meetings, there’s always something you can contribute, ask great questions. Don’t just sit back and watch.
5) Facilitate meetings, run the agenda, ask for input from others (my favorite shortcut to recognition!)
6) After meetings, follow-up with people 1:1, share notes/actions, acknowledge contributions from others.
7) Speak at events, conferences, be on a panel discussion – scary but well worth it!
