How to Ask for Recognition at Work

By Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire

An extremely important part of managing your career is getting the recognition you deserve. Yet women tend to downplay our successes for fear of appearing conceited.

While it's true that bragging excessively is obnoxious and frowned upon, that doesn't mean you should stop short of taking credit for your work--and seeking credit, too, at every stage for your career.

For example, a vice president successfully executes a shareholder meeting, and the CEO seeks her out to offer his compliments. He says, "Excellent job. The event came off without a hitch." She should never bashfully say, "Oh, it was nothing," simply because she is too shy and intimidated to accept the credit and praise.

Instead, she must accept the praise with pride. "I appreciate your recognition of my efforts. A lot of work went into planning this event. I'm delighted that all the preparation paid off for everyone." This is precious recognition that she has received from the CEO, and it can lead to raises and promotions if she seizes it and uses it wisely.

While nobody should expect a pat on the back for every little thing they do well, sometimes it's advisable to ask for recognition even when it's not offered. When you achieve a major task at work, go to your boss and say, "I'm very proud of my contribution to the shareholder meeting last week. I was thrilled to play an important role in such a successful event. It would mean a lot to me if you included my contribution in your weekly report to senior management." Your boss should be willing to do this on your behalf, and when it's done, be certain to express your appreciation. You are documenting your contribution and making it known to key decision makers.

• Request this right after the project has been successfully completed.
• Ask for this when you have made a clear-cut contribution.
• Ask for recognition like this at least three to four times a year, or more often if major accomplishments warrant it.
• Always be direct about what you want in the way of recognition.

Tory Johnson is the CEO of Women For Hire and the Workplace Contributor on ABC's Good Morning America. Connect with her at www.womenforhire.com