Let’s admit, it’s no fun toiling all day at work and not getting the importance you deserve. Reeling under constant stress, target pressure, tight deadlines, client satisfaction, and office politics, most people feel burned out and exhausted. Add to it being undervalued at work, and you’ve got the perfect list responsible for high attrition rates. Do you feel like you don’t get the importance you deserve? What to do when you feel undervalued at work? Should you talk about it or stay quiet? Or is moving on and getting another job the best solution?
Before we dive deep, let’s take a look at some stats:
- A Gallup study reveals only 20% of employees feel engaged at work globally.
- One SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management Association) study states 79% of employees quit because they feel undervalued and unappreciated at work.
- 45% of employees attributed disengagement to feeling unrecognized and undervalued at work. (Wirke)
All of us have been undervalued at some point or another during our careers. But our worth may not be reflected in how much money we make or how much responsibility we have; instead, it comes down to how well we perform our job duties and whether or not those duties match up with what an employer wants.
But if you work for a company where people are making less money but performing just as well as those higher up on the totem pole, then maybe it’s time for an upgrade!
How to overcome the feeling of being undervalued at work?
If you are undervalued at work, it’s important to understand why. While most people feel they are worth more than what they are being paid, it’s also important to understand how your role contributes to the company as a whole.
Your value as an employee can be measured in many ways:
- How much money do you bring in?
- What kind of contribution do you make on behalf of the company?
Evaluate your responsibilities and duties and answer these questions honestly.
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Appreciation at the workplace matters…
“Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival, to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated.” –Stephen R. Covey
Here are some tell-tale signs that help you understand if you’re undervalued. Your opinions don’t matter at meetings; you’re basically invisible. You’re the go-to person for thankless jobs that don’t really come under your job description. You feel disengaged because your skills are being underutilized. If any of these resonate with your situation, you’re probably right in feeling unappreciated. It sabotages your self-confidence and you begin to question your worthiness and chances of progress.
Again, the feeling of being undervalued at work can have different connotations for different people. It could be the lack of recognition or promotion opportunities for some, low pay, or a toxic workplace culture for others. Sometimes we simply accept our current situation as being fair—but this is rarely true! So, how do you navigate this delicate yet important challenge?
Be realistic and assess the situation
One way to make sure that you never undervalue yourself – is to overdeliver value – go over and above what is expected, set a high bar and deliver that. If you keep that as a strategy, chances of you being undervalued reduce and even if it happens in one instance – with this attitude you will be back in favor and become a consistently successful individual in the long run
It can be hard to think objectively about the situation—but when you do look at the facts, they might not seem as bad. Is your work above-par and worthy of praise? Are your expectations justified? To help clarify things ask your co-workers or seniors. Dig deeper into what exactly makes up a successful career path for someone like yourself.
Another aspect is, are you able to utilize your strengths at work? This is very important because when you focus on your strengths, you work effortlessly, are more productive, and feel a deep sense of satisfaction. You do not seek outside validation/motivation. Minor skill gaps can be filled through upskilling. But if your job requires you to do things that are completely off of your skillset, then you have a serious problem. You are bound to feel disengaged, demotivated, unproductive, and overall, very unhappy at work.
Under pressure – always bank on your strengths. Check what is going wrong and then play to your strengths. This is what great sportspeople do when they are out of form.
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Take stock of your accomplishments
Sometimes you have to document and showcase your accomplishments as your managers may be too busy to notice. Look for ways to contribute more and take ownership of the things you do. Doing so not only allows your employer to understand your contributions and performance but also serves to build your confidence and drive away imposter syndrome.
While being appreciated is great, it’s an external source of validation, one that is not under your control. But if you’re confident of the work you do and the value you bring to the table, you will be self-motivated, not seeking external accolades or appreciation.
Sometimes, all it takes is deep listening to understand people. Here’s how to Just Listen.
Ask for feedback
If there’s one thing that can increase your visibility and is critical for personal and career growth, I’d say it is asking for feedback. Questions like, “How am I doing?” or “What should I do differently?”, will give you valuable insights. Taking the initiative to better yourself is a highly sought-after growth mindset trait that plays a vital role in career advancement.
Work your way through tough conversations
If you still feel like an underpaid, unsung hero, it’s time to have that conversation. Arm yourself with your list of accomplishments and initiate a dialogue. You may not always have perfect answers but a conversation will help your manager recognize your contributions, who can then provide positive reinforcement in terms of encouragement, appreciation, or a well-deserved raise.
If you’re still feeling undervalued at work, consider moving on
Never stop learning – Sometimes the pick me up you need is a new skill or knowledge and for that, you need to be a continuous learner
But if none of the above help and you still feel like you’re not getting the importance you deserve and it’s affecting your productivity and peace, it’s time to consider a new job. If you’ve spent years building up your skills and talents, only to find yourself in a situation where they aren’t valued by your employer, know your worth, and understand that you don’t have to accept an undervalued underpaid role.
Ultimately, rather than complain and sulk, take action. Upskill, increase your visibility, contribute more, seek feedback, and get yourself out of the status quo. Not all conflict is bad, so have that conversation if you must, but own your career growth.
“Remember you have to strive to be someone who is celebrated not tolerated.”
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