The Invisible Work That Sets You Apart
Readtime: 4 minutes
Most of the things that get you noticed at work are easy to spot.
Big wins. High-profile projects. Impressive presentations.
But there’s another category of work – one that doesn’t show up on performance reviews or project plans.
I call it invisible work.
It’s the work behind the work.
The quiet behaviours.
The subtle patterns.
The things no one’s tracking – but everyone’s picking up on.
And the truth is: invisible work is often what separates high performers from the rest.
Today, I’ll walk you through the five forms of invisible work that matter more than most people realise – and how to use them to quietly stand out.
1. How You Prepare (When No One’s Watching)
Preparation is invisible – until it isn’t.
You can always tell when someone’s well-prepared. They’re clear. Sharp. Calm.
But what’s often missed is the depth of their prep.
High performers:
Think beyond the task and into the context.
Prepare not just content, but reactions to likely questions.
Research who’s in the room and tailor their message.
It’s about preparing intentionally (not over-preparing).
Ask yourself: “What’s the unspoken goal of this meeting – and how can I help achieve it?”
2. How You Respond to Tension
Moments of tension happen all the time – a sudden challenge in a meeting, a disagreement with a peer, a curveball from a client.
Most people react.
High performers respond.
They stay calm. They breathe before speaking. They ask clarifying questions.
That presence – especially under pressure – makes people trust you more. It de-escalates the moment.
It signals composure, emotional intelligence, and leadership.
And almost no one gets trained in it.
Practice this: In your next tough moment, pause for one deep breath before speaking.
3. How You Treat Junior People
This one’s always invisible to the person doing it. But never to the person on the receiving end.
How you treat junior team members – especially when you don’t need anything from them – says lots about you.
The best people:
Acknowledge contributions.
Share context, not just instructions.
Ask thoughtful questions, not just give orders.
Word gets around. Culture is contagious. And those small moments build reputations over time.
4. How You Communicate When You’re Not in the Room
This one’s a bit meta. But stay with me.
Your influence doesn’t stop when you leave the meeting. In fact, your biggest impact might come after you’ve gone.
Why? Because people talk.
They reference your ideas. They discuss how you made them feel. They mention how clear or confusing you were.
So – did your contribution create clarity? Did your tone build trust? Did your actions reflect consistency?
The invisible reputation you build through others’ conversations might be the most powerful one of all.
5. How You Carry Disappointment
We all experience setbacks – a project that gets shelved, feedback that stings, or an opportunity that goes to someone else.
But what most people don’t realise is this:
The way you carry disappointment is quietly noticed.
Do you:
Sulk?
Blame others?
Get passive-aggressive?
Or do you:
Stay composed?
Stay curious?
Stay generous?
When you handle disappointment with grace, it shows emotional maturity. It builds trust.
And while nobody may say it out loud – they remember it.
Often, the biggest test of professionalism isn’t how you win. It’s how you lose.
In Summary
Here are five forms of invisible work that set high performers apart:
Intentional preparation
Calm responses to tension
Respectful treatment of junior colleagues
Reputation when you're not in the room
How you carry disappointment
These things don’t get headlines.
But they quietly shape the way others see you.
And over time, they compound into trust, influence, and opportunity.
On a Personal Note
Some of the best feedback I ever received came from someone who wasn’t there at the time.
They told me, “People said you made everyone in the room feel better about themselves.”
That stuck with me.
Because it wasn’t about what I presented. It was about how I made people feel.
The invisible stuff.
And ever since, I’ve paid just as much attention to that as anything else.
One Quote to Get You Going
“The true test of a person’s character is what they do when no one is watching.”
That’s all for today.
See you in a couple of weeks,
Mostyn
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