I am a big believer in stealth. Especially if you are working.
Most people want attention. Good reviews, good raises, good promotions.
Me me me me me me me me me……..blah blah blah
Some sit back and wait for it, don’t get it and stew.
Others leave.
Others demand it. They are constantly in your face telling everyone how unappreciated they are.
Some years ago I learned that if you don’t make things about you, you can go stealth in your job and accomplish a great deal. If you do it right and stick to it, the money, good reviews and titles will come to you. People around you will sense that you are trying to do good work. Especially your bosses. By the way, if they don’t give you more freedom and try to control you, then you have another problem. Then you have another decision to make.
Stay and die slowly or…
Leave….One of my favorite alternatives.
But the key is to not to make yourself the center of some drama. Unless you are an actor you are hired to go do your job. Drama makes you a target for being stuffed and caged. That how bosses treat drama queens (or kings). If they don’t have the guts to tell you to leave then what they will do is gradually slice and dice you into little pieces. I have had it done to me and I have done it to others.
Freedom comes from not making it about you. The more you are stealth (not making it about you) the more freedom you will generally have to do good work.
I have a paradigm.
If you always had trouble cashing your paychecks how would you feel?
The same for bosses who have problems with employees. You become a paycheck that they have trouble cashing.
Evertime I leave something better has happened.
Jerry:
Great thoughts. I agree that sometimes the best decision is the decision to move on and up. I am a big believer in employer loyalty but you cannot stay in a position with no room for growth unless that touchpoint is something that is not a driver for you. For most of though, success is measured, at least partly, by continuing to progress forward in our careers.
Best,
Evelyn