You know how in kindergarten the teachers would give you a star when you did something good? 

Then you go home assured that you did well.

Do you ever wish they’d do that at work, too? 

Because yeah, you’re working your butt off, but there’s no clear sign that your superiors—or anyone actually—have noticed. 

And you feel like if you just knew that you were doing a good job, it’d motivate you to do better.

It’s absolutely normal to want this assurance.

Luckily, there are ways to know if you pay close attention.

Don’t hold your breath for that star, but instead, watch out for these 9 signs that say you’re an asset at your workplace, even if nobody has said it yet!

1) They call you by your name

You haven’t officially met, but they go “Oh, you’re Kevin!” or “Ah, I’m glad to finally meet you, Marie!” when you’re introduced. 

And you check, but no, you’re not wearing an I.D.

A glaring sign that you’re an asset at your workplace is that people remember and recognize your name. This is especially true if you’re working with a lot of people.

At times, you can’t help but go, “Huh?! How come they know my name even though I’m a newbie?”

Well, that’s probably because they’ve already talked about you and your sterling credentials, even before you stepped foot in the office.

2) Your opinion matters

Do your colleagues annoy you sometimes because they’re always asking you to weigh in on their work?

And does your boss routinely ask for your opinion?

Well, you’re definitely an asset at your workplace, even if nobody has said it yet.

It’s clear you’ve shown that you have some valuable insights and sensibilities that set you apart from the rest. 

So, even if you’re not an expert at what you do (yet), people value your input nonetheless.

3) They remember the things you’ve done

And they compliment you on them, too.

“Ohhh. You’re the one who led that project? Cool!”

“What? Oh, so you’re the one who wrote that report? Awesome work!”

When your work is remembered (in a good way), it’s a clear sign that you’re not only doing something right, but you’re producing remarkable work. 

So, even if someone’s a bit cold to you and yet, they remember the things you do, trust me—deep down, they admire you. Even if they don’t want to show it.

4) They give feedback on your work

I personally don’t give any feedback when I consider someone’s work to be hopeless. 

Why waste precious time on something that’s beyond repair?

But when I see potential, I give my honest opinions—maybe even a bit too much that I sometimes become annoying. But I just can’t help it when it’s work that I really believe in!

So, if the people you work with give you feedback, and they’re passionate about it, trust me—they think you’re an asset.

Try not to take things personally and instead, thank them for caring and taking the time.

5) They’re more forgiving of your mistakes

You arrived 30 minutes late for a meeting?

They don’t give you a hard time about it, even if that’s what they’d usually do with others.

They’ll just tell you to relax, grab a seat, and take notes. They might even spare a few minutes to catch you up!

Forgot to add an important slide in your presentation?

They said “Oh, it happens. I’ll add it later. Thanks for your work.”

And you know that these people aren’t usually the kind and nurturing boss types. 

Well, you probably have something valuable to offer to the team. And it’s more than enough to make them overlook your little mistakes every now and then.

6) You’re the team’s go-to person

Like the frontman of a band, you usually represent the team.

When the higher-ups need to relay or get information, they call you.

Sadly, when your team screws up, they tend to be extra hard on you, too. It’s as if YOU let them down, even if you’re not officially the leader.

But see, you can’t disappoint someone if they didn’t think highly of you in the first place.

This just means that you carry a good amount of weight in your group and you’re an asset at your workplace.

7) They keep assigning new work to you

Being an asset at your workplace has its downsides.

If you’re good at what you do, they’ll keep assigning new tasks to you!

So, if you notice that your projects are piling up while your colleagues are just enjoying their free time, that could mean you’re really good at what you do.

Don’t be surprised if you’re handed a promotion very soon. 

8) They let you handle the challenging tasks

If it’s just a regular day, work gets assigned evenly to everyone.

But when there’s an important client presentation or there’s a crisis that needs to be handled ASAP, you get singled out for the biggest chunk of the work.

The difficult tasks are handed to you.

You have a lot of responsibilities.

There’s a long list of tasks that you need to do, while others do menial things and wait for you to do your magic.

It’s frustrating, I know. But at least you know you’re definitely an asset to your workplace, and they might just crumble without you. 

9) They ask “What else can you do?”

Let’s say you’re a writer.

But your boss is curious to see your other skills, too.

So, when you know some things about graphic design, they ask you to draw up the newsletter. And they’re already impressed that you know your way around this, too. 

You know they’re not just doing this because you have time to spare. In fact, there’s always a steady stream of workload on your desk.  

If you notice that you get assigned tasks that are not in your job description, you also have to remember to be fair to yourself and get your due. Know that it’s okay to say “no” to these office favors.

But the fact that they let you do these things just means they see that you’re a wealth of potential and you’re indeed, an asset at your workplace.

So what now?

If you’re happy with the way things are in your professional life, then congratulations! 

You know you’re in the right place when your work is valued and appreciated.

But if you feel like you’re an asset, and you’re not treated like one (no raise, no work-life balance), then it’s time to reassess if this workplace is really where you want to invest your time and effort.

If you think a raise and a new title are due, go ahead and ask for a promotion.

If you think you need more breaks or require an assistant, bring up the idea.

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve and what you need to make your work better. 

Final thoughts

Work is important—this much is undeniable. 

It’s how you provide for yourself and those who depend on you. It gives you security. And in some ways, work can provide you with a sense of purpose, too.  

While all this is true, you must also remember that your work is just a part of you. You’re bigger than it, and you’re more important. 

So, when your work doesn’t serve you anymore, or when you find yourself in a workplace that undervalues you… Do yourself a service and walk away. 

We spend an average of 90,000 hours at work. Find one that’s worth your time.