Technical experts in the workplace diligently go about their day to day work, but often don’t get the recognition they deserve. Why do technical experts not get noticed?
I work with many technical experts, whether they are IT geeks (I have been reliably informed they are happy to be known as geeks!), medical experts or financial whizz’s. Technical experts exist in every organisation, doing the ‘real’ work that needs to happen for the business to run. I have come across technical experts who would hate to manage people and others who in fact have surprised themselves by enjoying the people management challenge. We can discuss this in a later blog.
The one thing I notice over and over again though, is the frustratingly true fact that these brilliant, highly competent workers going about their day to day jobs are often unnoticed by many. Why?
The reason is that they are quietly going about their work. Diligent. Quiet. Meticulous. Accurate. Thorough. That’s the way they work. And the work they produce is accurate, perfect and brilliant. So what’s the problem?
The problem is that it is not in their nature to shout about what they do. About how fabulous they are. Their preferred quiet way of working is just fine thank you. But what does this mean for them and their careers? Does it mean that they don’t get the promotions? The glory? The recognition? Are they the forgotten ones when it comes to the annual pay review and career promotions? Is it the loud, ‘shouty’ ones that get those?
Of course, I am being a little facetious here and this is a subject close to my heart. The reason why is that I am being asked to coach so many technical experts right now. They are brilliant at their jobs BUT they need to be more “present”, impactful, noticed so that others get to see and hear their brilliance. It basically comes down to their personality.
Their preferred modus operandi is; quiet, more internal. But this is the challenge they face. To be heard, to be noticed, they need to be more external. Their thoughts and ideas need to be shared outside of their heads and onto the table so that others can hear that brilliance. Their more externally focussed colleagues will use that brilliance to evolve their own ideas. A to-ing and fro-ing of thoughts from all the team, not just the louder more external thinkers will create a team of brilliant people who create outstanding results.
And this is what I do – I am on a mission to get those more internally focussed, brilliant workers OUT – on the table – down the phone line – across the internet ether – so that their brilliance can be seen heard and utilised for the good of themselves, their team and ultimately the organisation.
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this?
Until next time,
Julia
