Take a bow, you earned it

Years ago, one of my teams had taken on a massive project and absolutely nailed it.

The employee who did the bulk of the work preferred to remain behind the scenes, silently accepting the praise of her co-workers, but never standing up for herself with her executive team. Despite my best efforts to shine a light on her work, she refused to come to celebration lunches I had arranged for her and our VP.

I think a lot about this individual to this day.

I used to think a lot like her, as it turns out.

My work can speak for itself, I would often tell myself. I don't need to be front and center, I would rationalize.

Look, your work doesn't have a mouth. It doesn't have a voice. It just sits there, lonely in a Gdrive, quietly observing bits and bytes float by. It can't speak for you.

Only you can speak for you.

Even your manager can't speak for you.

You have to stand up and take credit for your hard work.

This is especially true in PMM interviews and career conversations. When someone asks what you accomplished, say "I" not "we." Your work needs a spokesperson, and that spokesperson is you.

Trust me.

Take a bow. You've earned it.