Why Should the Boss Listen to You?: The Seven Disciplines of the Trusted Strategic Advisor

4.6. Trust-Appreciation Confusion

Many advisors suffer from a sense of confusion: their advice may be taken, even relied on, yet they feel that their work is not appreciated and that their contributions and their presence are undervalued. The questions I hear are, "Why aren't there more expressions of appreciation and acknowledgment?" "How can I get [the boss] to acknowledge my value?"

My first response may seem a little flippant, but it usually goes something like this: "If you're in the business of being a trusted advisor for the accolades, recognition, and appreciation it will generate for you, you'd better choose another career direction as quickly as possible, because you'll be waiting a long time." This issue is similar to what I described ...