Introduction
Today, I’d like to talk about the foundation of nearly everything I do as a product manager: recognition. Even if it seems selfish, the truth is that without recognition, anything you do with, to, or for your teams is essentially wasted breath.
What is recognition?
Recognition is the foundation of anything worthwhile. It does not matter what “it” is; if you do not recognize it, it has little to no impact on you or your life. Recognition is the acknowledgement of something’s identity and value. If one or both aren’t clear for something, then by definition, that something is either invisible to you or disregarded.
Or in laymen’s terms, if something’s identity and value are not accepted by you or your stakeholders, then that something might as well not exist.
What does this mean for product managers?
It means that if a product manager, and/or his or her products, are not clearly known by stakeholders (identity) and/or deliver desired outcomes (value), then he or she or those products are effectively non-existant to their stakeholder’s worlds. The big “so wha”t here is that:
If you or your products aren’t recognized, then you drive no positive impact to your team or customers. Or saying it in terms we can all agree on: there’s nothing, short of a miracle, that will get you your next pay raise.
After all, if you were the CEO, would you give your teams raises if you couldn’t recognize what value they provide to your company? Of course not!
How do I get recognized?
It’s not only important to be recognized, but also for the right people to recognize you in the first place. Only a few people realistically have the final say in whether or not you get that raise or promotion you wanted… but nearly anyone you work with or for can help influence the outcome towards getting it! So, how do you get recognized?
Just be visible. It’s not rocket science.
Yes, there may be many nuances to being visible (politics, market flucations, learning styles, etc.), but at the end of the day, recognition and visibility go hand in hand.
Generally speaking, if you’re out there documenting your achievements, claiming wins as they come, and being present to your stakeholders, you’ve got a great handle on people recognizing who you are and what you do. That means, if you’re always hiding in the corner, staying as far under the radar as possible, and not speaking up at meetings (you don’t need to give a Ted Talk, but say SOMETHING), then chances are you’re probably NOT being recognized as much as you could be.
And that means the next time raises and promotions are being evaluated, your name probably won’t cross decision-makers’ minds.
So, what does visibility look like? Documenting achievements, claiming wins, being present, etc. are all good means. But what else is there? Depending on your workplace culture, you have a range of options:
- Volunteer for projects — don’t say yes to everything, but position yourself for strategic projects whenever you can
- Network with your coworkers — go out for a coffee, a bite, etc.
- Seek feedback — always be asking for feedback, good or bad; this also has a side-effect of inspiring respect from your coworkers
- Present something — feel free to be creative; presentations don’t always mean you have to get up in front of a crowd for public speaking
- Be visible on company platforms — think newsletters, blogs, Slack channels, etc.
- Attend professional development or social opportunities — company outings, team trainings, etc.
- Focus on adding value to others, not taking — if you can help someone have a little less of a bad day, that can work wonders in terms of visibility, respect, AND likeability
Can you help me?
It depends if you’re ready to help yourself. Cheesy, I know, but a universal truth with ANY coach or mentor is that the coachee or mentee has to be ready to invest in him or herself. Their painpoints have to be so significant that they are forced to do something to relieve the pain.
If you’re sick and tired of feeling unrecognized by your peers, let’s talk. Click the 1-on-1 Coaching button at the top right of this page to reach out to me. Answer a few questions, and I’ll reach out to schedule our most important call: a discovery call.
In about 15 minutes, you’ll learn a bit more about me. I’ll learn a bit more about you. Together, we’ll make sure you’re in the right place before we go any further.
So, if you’re looking for help getting yourself known and respected by your peers, reach out! If not, no worries! But, if one day you ever need someone to talk to about it, you know where to find me.