8 Things to Do When You Feel Unappreciated At Work
In an ideal situation, you feel that your work and contribution to your team are appreciated. While work can be an enjoyable experience, there might be occasions where this isn't the case. Feeling unappreciated at work is an unfortunate situation, but you can take action to improve it.
What does feeling unappreciated at work mean? If you're feeling unappreciated at work, this typically comes from believing that your colleagues or employer don't recognise your efforts. This might mean that they ignore any contributions you make or that they're not acknowledging your hard work. In some cases, they might even be unnecessarily critical or disparaging of your work.
Some signs that may cause you to feel unappreciated may include the following:
A lack of proper recognition for your efforts
An unjustified and regular criticism of you or your work
Receiving lower pay than colleagues performing the same tasks
Difficulty making yourself heard in meetings or conversations
Other people taking credit for your efforts
Insufficient feedback or input regarding your assignments or projects
A lack of responsiveness to your genuine concerns at work
Not receiving opportunities for advancement despite earning them
If you feel appreciated at work, this is beneficial both for you and your organisation. Feeling appreciated is an important motivator and can allow you to perform your tasks with confidence and drive. Feeling appreciated can help you feel secure in your position, making you more likely to contribute to the team's long-term success.
Both your colleagues and your employer can help you feel appreciated. With colleagues, you can achieve this feeling by being part of a cohesive team that works together to help each other. You're going to be more likely to help others and less hesitant to ask for help from them. By reassuring you that you're a valued member of the organisation and that you are both wanted and needed, your employer can also assist you in feeling appreciated.
If you are feeling unappreciated, there are some things you can do to both prevent it and address the problem. Some steps you might consider include:
Consider how you feel
Feeling unappreciated is primarily a feeling, but it usually comes from incidents and patterns of behaviour. Take some time to think about what you expected in the workplace. Try to evaluate how justified you feel those expectations were. You may find that you had higher expectations than your team could provide. This doesn't necessarily mean you're unappreciated but that your team doesn't have the time to show it. Additionally, it's important to reflect on your interactions at work.
A singular incident that showed a lack of appreciation may have been a careless comment rather than a deliberate attempt at demotivation. It can also be natural to focus on negative incidents and overlook positive ones. Think of gestures or interactions that confirm that you are appreciated. For instance, if your employer or manager has assigned you important tasks, this is usually an indication that they trust you and value your abilities. If you're having trouble finding instances of appreciation like this, then your feelings of being unappreciated may be justified.
Observe your colleagues
A good way of determining if you're unappreciated is to observe your colleagues. For instance, if they are consistently receiving recognition for the same work you do, this might indicate a bias. This is also true for their interactions with each other. If your colleagues have a pattern where their efforts, contributions and feelings take precedence over your own, you may be justified in feeling unappreciated. Conversely, if it's rare for anyone in the office to receive praise, then it's likely that you're simply maintaining higher expectations than others. In this case, if you feel that your working environment would benefit from more positive reinforcement, you might consider starting this yourself and observing if others follow your example.
Speak to a trusted co-worker
In some cases, it can be hard to determine if you’re feeling of being unappreciated is correct or simply due to misunderstanding. If you have a colleague you trust, consider sharing your feelings with them and asking for their opinion, as they may have observed a similar pattern. If they can confirm that your feelings are correct based on their observations, then you can be reasonably sure that you are not receiving adequate appreciation. If your colleague has been at the organisation longer than you, they may have seen this sort of thing before. In this case, they might even have suggestions for how to address the issue. But if they believe that your feelings aren't justified, consider re-evaluating your expectations.
Speak to your employer
If you don't feel comfortable sharing your feelings with a co-worker, or if your co-worker has confirmed your feelings, it might be a good idea to speak to your employer or manager about the situation. Even if you've previously felt that they were among those who didn't appreciate you, it may not have been intentional. Be open about your feelings and explain why you believe you're unappreciated. Your employer or manager may be able to take some direct actions to address this or find ways to influence the organisation's culture in a more positive direction.
Lead by example
In some cases, the culture in a workplace may encourage this sort of unfortunate behaviour. Your colleagues may feel that it's normal to lack appreciation for certain colleagues, especially if they're new. If you think it might work, you could try actively showing you appreciate your colleagues. Setting an example may require patience, but it can give a better example for others to follow.
Mention your achievements
It can be helpful if you mention your achievements and contributions at work. It's important to do this in a way that doesn't make it seem like you're bragging or arrogant. Instead, mention your contributions when it's relevant to a conversation or someone else's work. For instance, if you've completed a task that someone else was waiting for, mention to them that it's been completed and ask if they require anything else. You can also take the opportunity to ask for feedback. By doing this, your co-workers are going to become aware of your efforts and may start showing their appreciation.
Practise self-appreciation
Feeling appreciated at work is an important contributor to your motivation and performance. If you're not receiving adequate recognition for your efforts at work, you may find it beneficial to practise some self-appreciation. Try to reflect on the contributions you've made and how your work has made that of others easier. This can help you find a sense of pride in your work regardless of whether others share this view.
You might also find your work itself can be very gratifying and that you don't necessarily need others to validate your achievements. For instance, if your role involves dealing with customers and clients, you can focus on gaining their appreciation and respect. This can help you perform better and still receive recognition for doing your job well. In the long term, your employer might even realise this and recognise your efforts. For many people, taking pride in their work can help them feel satisfied at their job.
Consider your options
In some cases, you might find that there's no way of getting others to appreciate you at work. If you feel that this situation isn't going to change and it's negatively impacting your work and motivation, it might be time to think about other options. It's important for you to feel valued and productive in your career and staying in a negative working environment where you feel unappreciated is usually neither advisable nor healthy. Start reaching out to your network and apply for jobs elsewhere, and you may find an organisation where your efforts and contributions are appreciated.
