The Saturday Wake-Up Call

Jane is rushing through the empty city. It’s Saturday morning, and the streets are quiet. Traffic lights blink on deserted roads. She likes how fast she can get to her office on weekends—no delays, no crowded streets.

Within minutes, she’s sitting at her desk, coffee in hand, ready to dive into the pile of work waiting for her.

For three months, this has been her routine. While others sleep in or enjoy their weekends, Jane works. She handles deadlines, fixes mistakes, and tackles extra tasks. She tells herself it’s worth it. The promotion is close. All this hard work will show her boss she deserves it.

She picks up the next folder in her stack. Her name is printed on the front: Jane Wilson – Performance Review.

Her brow furrows. Why is this here?

Flipping through the pages, she scans her strengths: “dedicated,” “reliable.” A small smile crosses her face. But then her eyes land on her weaknesses: “hesitant to delegate,” “bad team player.”

Her chest tightens. Bad team player?

The Realization

Jane stares at the words, disbelief washing over her. How can they think that?

She thinks about all she’s done. The weekends she’s sacrificed, the late nights, the countless extra tasks she’s taken on to make sure deadlines are met. She thought her work would speak for itself. She believed her boss and coworkers could see her dedication, her effort, her sacrifices.

But now, doubt creeps in. Do they even know what I’ve been doing? Do they even notice?

For the first time, she wonders if staying quiet, keeping her head down, and simply working hard might not be enough.

Speaking Up

Monday morning, Jane steps into her boss’s office. Mr. Harding looks up from his laptop, surprised to see her.

“Hi, Jane. How are you?” he asks.

“I need to talk,” Jane says, sitting down and placing the folder on his desk. Her voice shakes slightly, but she pushes forward. “I found my performance review in the stack of work you gave me this weekend.” 

“Your review? That must’ve been a mistake.”

“It was,” Jane says, “but I saw it. It says I’m a bad team player. I don’t get it. I’ve been working weekends, staying late, and taking on extra tasks to meet deadlines. How is that not being a team player?”

Harding leans back, his expression thoughtful. “Jane, I didn’t know you’ve been working weekends. I appreciate your effort. But the problem isn’t your dedication—it’s how others see you.”

Jane’s brows furrow. “What do you mean?”

“You take on too much,” Harding explains. “You don’t ask for help. You rarely join the team for lunch or conversations. And when your work comes in at the last minute, it adds stress to the team. To them, it feels like you’re working alone.”

Jane feels her stomach drop. “But the deadlines are too tight to finish everything on time,” she says quickly. “And I do more work than anyone else.”

Harding nods. “In that case, we have a problem I wasn’t aware of,” he says. “But you need to learn how to work with your team. You can’t do everything yourself.”

A Sudden Change

The next thing Jane knows, a few of the projects she has been working on are assigned to her coworkers.

She feels torn. On one hand, she finally has her weekends back. She can rest, recharge, and even take time for herself.

But on the other hand, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s ruined her chances for the promotion.

A New Perspective

Over the next few weeks, Jane realizes something important: even if she thinks her work is great, it needs to be confirmed by others. Her boss, managers, and coworkers are too busy with their own tasks to notice everything she does or speak up for her.

It’s her job to ask for feedback, provoke good responses, and make sure those words reach the right ears. If she doesn’t share her value, no one else will.

The Lesson

Jane starts to approach things differently. She gets feedback after every project and shares her accomplishments with her boss. She involves her team earlier and learns to ask for help when needed.

It feels strange at first, but slowly, things improve. Her boss notices her more, and the team works better together.

Jane learns an important truth:

Good work doesn’t always speak for itself. You have to make sure others hear about it.

Struggling With Work Challenges?

From Jane’s Story to Your Career

Have you ever felt like Jane? Overworked, unnoticed, and unsure if anyone even appreciates what you’re doing?

Jane’s story shows a common problem in the workplace: when hard work goes unrecognized, it’s easy to feel invisible. But the truth is, sometimes bosses and coworkers simply don’t notice the effort you’re putting in.

That doesn’t mean your work isn’t valuable—it just means you might need to advocate for yourself.

Here’s how to take control and make sure your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed:

1. Start the Conversation

If your boss never thanks you, it can feel frustrating. Start by asking a simple, non-confrontational question:

“By the way, how’s it going with my work? Are you happy with how I’m doing?”

If they respond positively, follow up:
“That’s great to hear! It’d be really helpful to hear that kind of feedback more often.”

2. Use the Four-Step Framework

When addressing your feelings, try this structured approach:

• I understand we’re all busy.
• I feel that sometimes my work isn’t acknowledged.
• I want to know if I’m meeting your expectations.
• Is that okay?

This keeps the tone professional and constructive.

3. Ask for Feedback

After finishing a project, ask:
"I’d love your quick thoughts on the project we just completed. What went well? Where can I improve?"

This opens the door for positive feedback and areas of growth.

4. Document Your Wins

Whenever you get a compliment—verbally or via email—make a note of it. Keep a file of positive feedback to use during performance reviews or when negotiating for a promotion.

5. Make Your Work Easy to Evaluate

Agree on specific metrics with your boss, like deadlines or quality benchmarks. This makes your achievements measurable and visible.

Hard work deserves recognition—but sometimes, you have to be the one to spotlight it. Start small, advocate for yourself, and watch how quickly things change.

You’re not alone in this. Start building a culture where your efforts are seen, heard, and appreciated. Just like Jane did.