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Ali Khan
Co-founder
The first indicator that leads you to feeling unappreciated at work usually comes from believing that you are not doing enough within the workplace.
They might ignore your contributions to the project or team if they don't acknowledge your hard work and job performance.
Employees want to feel appreciated, not just for the job performance, but for the person they are as well.
Feeling unappreciated at work is a very uncomfortable feeling, but the best way to deal with it is to address it.
Most of the times the company culture has a direct impact when employees feel this way. Here are some good company cultures, if you want to learn more about it.
These are some quick tips to consider if you are facing such a thing right now at the job you are in.
Here are some reasons why someone feels unappreciated at work.
In most organizations, people are often working hard on multiple projects at the same time.
While some of these projects may take top priority and others get put on the back burner, it’s important to not forget about the people who are working hard on other tasks that may not seem as glamorous as the “Star Wars” project, but are no less essential or important.
At times, we forget to take a step back and see what’s going well before the project even gets off the ground. And if you’re not looking in that direction, you might miss someone who has been quietly going above and beyond their responsibilities.
There’s nothing more motivating than being appreciated and acknowledged for a job well done.
In fact, many studies show that recognition produces high levels of employee engagement, which directly impacts productivity and job satisfaction.
For example, one study showed that nine out of 10 employees want more feedback on their performance, while another study found that only one in four employees believe they are receiving enough feedback at work.
So while it may seem clichéd to say more recognition is needed when the bar is already low, that doesn’t make it any less true.
But if you want to increase recognition levels, it starts by recognizing the people behind the work. Even if it’s just in a letter or email, you can increase satisfaction with your team by acknowledging them for a job well done every once in a while.
Lack of rewards and recognition In addition to appreciating team members for their efforts, it’s also wonderful to reward their hard work with recognition or incentives.
For example, companies can offer gift cards or dinner vouchers to celebrate milestones like retirement anniversaries, five years of service, or even just reaching a new sales goal.
Recognition is often very important because it acknowledges that an employee has earned an award or token of appreciation through their job performance or outstanding customer service skills.
It demonstrates that an individual has done an exceptional job and should be rewarded for it. Without these tangible rewards, workers will likely begin to feel unappreciated and undervalued as opposed to being given the praise they deserve.
Unclear expectations and clear communication around goals and expectations are key in maintaining an employee’s motivation at work.
It is important to let employees know what is expected from them to meet any deadlines or timelines without feeling like they are working towards nothing or being asked to do too much at once.
Furthermore, letting them know what positive changes they have made through their work makes them feel appreciated for their efforts rather than overwhelmed with a long list of tasks or goals (often unachievable) that seem unattainable for a single person to complete alone.
Unclear roles and responsibilities you don’t have to be a manager or leader to convey your expectations around role expectations; however, it can be helpful when you are clear about your expectations for your team members and their roles within the organization so that there is no room for confusion about who does what.
When teams aren’t clear about their roles and responsibilities within the company, you can start running into issues like the overlap between roles, miscommunication over responsibilities, unclear vision on objectives, and even lower performance due to lack of clarity over who is accountable for what tasks within a project team.
Poor company culture of the easiest ways to lose your top performers is through having a poor work culture that doesn’t reflect your core values as an organization (which could be how you want your employees to feel towards their workplace).
Poor company culture can be exactly what drives good employees away when they aren’t supported by management (even if they need more training or guidance) or neglected because management is too busy working on other projects, which may pull them away from getting back to an employee and addressing any concerns (even if a quick discussion could have been beneficial).
A strong company culture starts from the top down — top leadership needs to set an example by living the values of the organization by demonstrating them from day one so that everyone knows how they should act and feel about each other at work (and outside of work which has been shown as equally important in building up the trust).
Moving targets this happens all too often with teams — a team member works hard on something only to have everything changed because “the client changed their mind again” or “it’s not what we need after all.”
This can lead a team member to feel frustrated because their contributions don’t feel like they matter — especially if it feels like other people are getting all the recognition for team accomplishments while their hard work goes unnoticed or unappreciated (even though they did contribute just as much).
If you notice something like this happening with your team members (or if you are doing this yourself!), be sure to emphasize how important these contributions are by reiterating how much you appreciate all that was done for this project, even if it doesn’t get used in the final product!
Poor communication no matter what position someone holds in your organization, you should always keep communication direct, clear, and consistent across your organization so that everyone knows where they stand with each other — whether they are reporting up, down, or sideways.
Make sure there is open communication between all parties regarding projects, deliverables, and anything else related to moving things forward (or managing things back!).
Employee development opportunities are often seen as critical pieces in retaining talented individuals (instead of forcing them out), yet organizations tend only allocate time towards teaching new skills rather than coaching employees on how best to apply their existing skills towards growing within their respective fields or career tracks.
Some individuals have already grown beyond their own capacities (to keep up with changing industry trends) while others are stuck at dead ends with little hope for growing into something larger than their current roles allow them — not because there isn’t room for growth within the organization but simply because there hasn’t been any room made for growth for them within the organization!
Work on improving your productivity!
Most productive employees are satisfied with their jobs. Among the factors affecting job satisfaction are whether employees feel supported and valued by their peers and managers.
When employees feel good at where they are at, they will avoid seeking out for new job opportunities.
You may feel more motivated, energized, and productive when you are praised and given positive feedback on your performance.
It is essential to know how to address the feeling of being unappreciated at work, what it means, and why not to ignore it. When feeling unappreciated at work, consider the following advice:
The first step is to talk with your leader or manager about your concerns. If you’re not comfortable with that take your time.
Consider some feedback, this usually enables people to reflect on what they’re doing and find ways to be better in the future.
Take your mental health into consideration when looking for new jobs by considering the workplace culture and values of the company.
The whole point of being a team is to work together to achieve a goal. However, that’s easier said than done. Not all employees are team players.
But seeking out any opportunities to volunteer or partake in team-building exercises will get you closer to your team and understand better how other people approach, work, and focus during the working hours.
You will be inspired and inspire without noticing!
Sometimes we shift a lot of focus on ourselves and lose track of "reality". Most of the times things that happen within the office are not personal stuff, get outside of your box and be open to shifting your perception.
When considering this will ease your professional journey.
If you are the kind of person who believes that can take more and do more within the working hours than go for it.
But always be careful, you do not want to risk any work burnout that might cost you your mental well being.
Take one thing at a time, when having challenging opportunities and overcoming them will make you feel better and give you room for learning and slowly growing.
Wherever you are in the company, you can be proactive and contribute. Be proactive in your career.
Provide your manager with a 1-page summary of skills you’ve gained over the past year and how you plan to use these skills in the next year. Ask for feedback from your manager.
Next time you have a 1:1 with your manager, ask them to provide constructive feedback on what you’re doing right and what you can do to improve.
Be proactive in your lifeDo something new this month. Get out of your comfort zone, even if it’s just a small step. New habits create new identities, and taking action is the key to finding work-life balance.
Be proactive at work. Volunteer to help others at the company. When you help others accomplish their objectives, they will be more likely to help you accomplish yours.
One of the best ways to be proactive is to take part in opportunities that interest you. If you’re not sure what those are at first, ask yourself questions like “What are my hobbies?” or “What do I enjoy doing outside of work?”
Responding to questions like this will help you find activities within your company that align with your interests. And, in turn, responding to these questions will help you develop a strong self-identity as well as find meaningful goals within the company.
The best employees are not always "the loudest", always keep that in mind. You can become a great team player by simply doing your work in time, submitting your tasks in time will make your colleagues work flow easier.
This is the case for the teams that collaborate and when one delays a task causes a "chain reaction".
You can create your own version being a team player.
The best way to feel appreciated is to be appreciated by your colleagues, bosses, and everyone within your department.
Having an assigned work partner has been just as effective as having a designated mentor or coach in terms of making employees feel valued at work.
At least once a week, send an email or reach out and ask a colleague to join you on a project that you would both benefit from. The best part is that this can be done without bruising anyone’s ego.
Whenever you bring to the table, sales, closed deals, achievements this will automatically enhance the appreciation for you at work. If you are in a work position that links you directly to the costumers, make the most of it always.
Identify the expectations you have for your colleagues and supervisors. You should be realistic about the amount of praise you hope to receive.
Positive feedback may simply be absent because people are very busy themselves or have different expectations, rather than being intended as a slight against you.
If your boss assigns you to a significant project, it usually means they trust you and value your work, even if they don't explicitly say so.
If that is the case you can request a flexible schedule for yourself. This will slightly make things easier for you in the long run.
This will help you work on your self-esteem as well, which sometimes gets impacted without our knowledge.
You can increase your and build your confidence by receiving positive reinforcement when you accomplish your tasks from your leaders.
The improvements you want to see in your workplace can be led by you. When your coworkers and managers succeed, be sure to congratulate them; you'll frequently get praise in return.
Make sure to mention every team member while working on a project with others. When your department hits a significant milestone, be sure to thank everyone individually.
You can also include more general gestures of kindness and support, like bringing bagels or coffee to work for your staff or requesting your HR department to prepare meals when your department has late shifts.
This is the last option you should consider if the earlier options didn't work and you still feel undervalued. Explore new things, find something or someplace else to work.
Company values should be your priority. Voice out how important is feedback and value to you in the workplace.
If you feel like that is a big step to take and are unsure what the future may hold for you, discuss this matter with someone you trust.
Discussing such issues can help you manage everything and help you make the best decision. If you decide to resign, we have the perfect example of a resignation letter.
Focus on the little things you do daily, such as drafting a challenging email, finishing the first page of a report you've been putting off, or showing up on time every day for a month to boost your drive and confidence.
Even if you aren't getting feedback, celebrating tiny victories can help you stay engaged and motivated daily.
Speak with the manager you report and give verbal notice before writing a resignation letter.
The manager should decide the reasonable notice period (often two weeks notice) and the notice period objectives during this discussion between the employee and the manager.
The most crucial goal is transferring job obligations and roles to a new hire or coworker.
Here is an example resignation letter for someone quitting their job because they feel underappreciated at work.
My formal resignation from my position as Senior Leader at Spotify.Inc is effective as of the date of this letter. Three years with the company have been amazing. And I want to express my gratitude to you for everything I have learned. I've developed into a strong employee and professional thanks to this opportunity.
I regret to say that I believe my academic progress has recently slowed. And I need to look for a fresh chance that gives me another chance to make mistakes and learn.
I genuinely appreciate the opportunity.
The 20th of June, two weeks from now, will be my last day of employment.
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