I see technical leaders fall into a trap of not getting noticed for the good work they do. I see some people actively avoid trumpeting their contribution because they see it as self-aggrandizing. It is your job to add value, and also be sure people know about it. Keeping it to yourself doesn’t help your organization, nor does it help yourself. You need to deliver value and communicate it.

I hear the common concern. You don’t want to be “that guy or gal” who clearly works to benefit herself alone. The person who takes credit and talks disproportionately about their contribution. I have been in those meetings where all I hear is “Let me tell you what I’ve done this week.” Let’s not take that example to the extreme. You can communicate the value you’re delivering without sounding like a jerk.

Focus more on the value than the credit. If you’ve done something that contributes value, make sure people know and can take advantage of what you’ve done. You don’t need to spend any time saying “and I did that.” Instead, just communicate what you’ve done and why it’s so important. For example, you share “This process is now automated using a small script that allows anyone to run it when they need it. It’s located here and it’s used like this.” People notice valuable things and want to know who did them; you may get asked “who did this?” and you can honestly say “I did” without sounding like a salesperson.

Communicate value that others have created and credit them. I know this may sound counterintuitive, giving credit to others for work they’ve done helping you get noticed. First, your team likes to see you be unselfish about giving credit where credit is due. Second, it’s more likely that your team will credit you when you do something of value. Finally, if you’re crediting someone on your team it reflects positively on you that you’re helping them succeed. Credit isn’t a zero-sum game; you can give credit away and keep credit for yourself at the same time.

Offer to help others. Sometimes it’s obvious when someone works to benefit only themselves. It is possible for introspective focus to benefit the organization, and you will get credit for making yourself more productive. As a technical leader, helping others out is noticed as a standout trait. Ask how you can help, and see how your work can deliver value outside of your world of work.

Find a medium to communicate. Most of us have a natural way we like to communicate, written or verbal. If you are more comfortable writing, find a way to communicate value through writing. Maybe start a blog or a collection of pages on your company’s wiki. Share regular updates via a regular e-mail to those who can benefit. If you’re more comfortable talking to people, create a regular discussion group or brownbag lunch. Invite others that may benefit to attend, and include others to talk about what they’ve done. Once you have a vehicle to communicate with remember to follow the above guidance to share your value without focusing on credit.