Invisible Competence

When someone constantly prevents problems, other people don’t see the problems that were prevented.

It’s like someone make complex things look simple and everyone sees the simplicity of the outcome, but not the complexity that was managed behind it. Therefore the competence becomes invisible and unappreciated.

Imagine a project manager identify risks early, align stakeholders, solve issues proactively and quietly, keep the plan moving and then walk into the leadership meeting and say:

“Everything is on track.”

In the same meeting room, another project manager with less skills and reactive approach, reports many issues and asks for help. Then goes into detail of problems and attracts people’s attention. This will make his project looks complex.

The quiet PM may think:

“Does leadership actually see the hard work I’m doing or do they think this project is just easy?”

The answer is both but to show them you have the same complex project as others, you have to make your thinking visible.

Instead of only reporting:

“Everything is on track.”

Say:

“Everything is on track because…”

“We identified an opportunity to”

Then make a recommendation based on observation.

“I observed a pattern across the projects: the constraint is shifting from construction to material lead times. Therefore I started material ordering earlier, I recommend doing the same in the other projects.”

Now leadership isn’t just hearing that the project is healthy.

They’re seeing why it is healthy and how to make other ones healthy.

Now, let’s come back to day to day life. If you have any superpower and you know your skills and competency is not being seen or not appreciated enough, then…

Make your judgement, decisions making and thinking visible.

The goal isn’t to become the loudest person, it’s to make the value of your silence understandable.

If you are doing something better than others but not loud as others, share your way of doing things. Talk about how you think everyone can do better.

If you want your competency become visible, start sharing your thoughts.