3 Signs You’re a High Performer at Work, Even When Your Boss Doesn’t Tell You

Sara Mccord

It’s a boss’s job to point out areas for improvement and to help you grow. And so, if you’re on the wrong track or falling short of expectations, you expect them to let you know.

But, of course, constructive criticism is only one kind of feedback.

Positive feedback matters, too. It’s motivating to know that your efforts are seen and your work is valuable. Not just that, but it’s easier to believe in yourself if you feel that others believe in you, too.

But not everyone has a supervisor who makes it a point to give praise. And even if your manager has the best intentions, things get busy.

The great news is: Even if no one’s taking the time to say “good job”, there are signs you can look for that tell you that “yes, you are crushing it” – and your boss knows it too!

Look for one (or more) of these three things:

1. You’re given more responsibility.

A good manager isn’t going to pile more work onto someone they believe is struggling with their current workload. So, while it’d be awesome if new assignments came coupled with “I picked this for you because you’re doing such a great job with everything else!” that’s often what it means.

To be sure your new project is an endorsement of your skills (and not just an overworked boss shoving things off of their plate), ask yourself the following questions:

Does this give me the opportunity to build skills or qualify me for other types of projects?

Does this allow me to contribute to mission-critical work?

Does this align with what I’ve expressed interest in pursuing?

If you can answer yes to at least one, it means your boss feels you have your current projects under control and wants to provide additional avenues for you to stay engaged and grow.

2. You’re given more autonomy.

You know that a key reason why leaders micromanage is because they feel the employee isn’t meeting expectations. And if you follow that logic – that bosses hover over those whose abilities they question – you can see where the opposite would be true, too.

To put it plainly: If you’re right on target (or better yet, exceeding expectations) every time your manager checks in, then they won’t feel the need to do so as often.

So, if your supervisor tells you that you can run with whatever plan you think is best, or that you don’t need to touch base unless you have questions, that means they trust your judgment and skills. Empowering you to do more things with less supervision is the same as saying “You’re doing a great job, and so I trust you can keep succeeding with a lot less input from me!”

3. You’re given more visibility.

The best bosses find opportunities for their people to learn by doing. But they also know when they need their best foot forward. Who are they going to ask to run the account for a high-profile client or represent the company at a conference?

Someone who they have complete faith in and who they think represents the company in the very best light. Without a doubt, when you’re asked to speak on behalf of your team, it’s because your boss thinks you’re doing a great job.

You may’ve noticed a common theme across these three items: They all boil down to trust. Before your boss asks you to take more on, self-direct your work, or represent the organization to someone important, they have to believe that you’re up to the task. And if that’s where you’re at, pat yourself on the back. You deserve it!