Reclaim your Value in the Workplace

We are high achievers. We have years of experience that has molded our careers and provided us with key insights into how things work best for efficiency and effectiveness. We’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to business, management, and shifts in the market. 

Being a mid-level professional can be a challenge. We’re not entry level. We’re not C-suite. We may not even be a member of management at all. But we are where the work actually happens, where things get done. And, to go one step further, we do have to manage the efforts of other people in the organization to make things happen, just without the authority. 

Many times it can seem like the people in charge don’t value your experience, knowledge, and talents. They overlook you for big projects. They glaze over when you try to share our opinions. As painful as it sounds, you may be viewed as the old person whose experience is outdated and stale, no longer relevant. 

When you find yourself in this kind of situation, what sucks about it is that the thought of changing jobs again at this stage of the game is dreadful.  The last thing you want to do is hit the pavement, put on your happy face, and go try to schmooze someone else into hiring you. Not to mention that it’s insulting when you’re the “new” person, and they treat you like you’ve never worked a job before. They forget that you may be new to this company, but you’re not new to work. Everyone thinks their business is ‘special’ and they discount your years of experience and background. 

At the same time, though, you might also be scared and anxious of being cut during the next round of changes. If you don’t feel valued, and you struggle to get on board with decisions being made, there’s a good chance you could easily be pegged as someone who no longer fits with the organization. You could be viewed as the person whose termination would have the least impact. You really don’t want to quit, but you really can’t afford to get fired. What do you do?

You MUST remember that as a high achiever, you already know that you have to be flexible and adaptive…and maybe even a little scrappy. You know how to get things done. 

Think back to similar situations you’ve experienced. How did you handle it before that was successful? What were some mistakes or lessons learned that you can adjust and apply now? 

Don’t ever forget: You know what you’re doing. You’re smart, you’re a high achiever, and you know how things should be done. 

It’s never too late to flip the script and take control of the narrative. It’s still your career story, and you still hold the pen. The next chapter is up to you.

At this point in your career, if you feel overlooked and undervalued, remember this: You are a high achiever. You know how to get things done. You know how to make it happen. Flip the script and take back control of the narrative. It’s still your career story, and you still hold the pen. The next chapter is up to you.