Remote Work

Feels like effort doesn't count unless someone's watching you

This is the way offices have been for decades before the pandemic, long before the shift to work from home. People make themselves look busy when there's nothing to do in the office because the boss is watching. Boss sees someone coming in to the office when they don't have to, that counts as extra effort, in addition to which people are more favourably disposed to those they interact with regularly (obviously assuming few to no negative interactions). If you want to be on someone's radar, be a line (multiple regular contact points), not a dot.

The silent grinders get ignored because they're dots on the radar. Everyone - even managers - have got stuff to think about and a cap on the amount of thinking they can do in a day. Most people won't notice anything outside their cone of vision. Bringing attention to things you've accomplished (especially stuff that makes your colleagues' lives easier and might not be strictly in your job description) isn't "making noise", or if it is then that's not a bad thing. At worst, it's keeping your boss/colleagues in the loop on your work or sometimes advocating for yourself.

And on that note, I don't go posting laundry lists of accomplishments. If I write an article, I post about it in the proper channel with some relevant information. My plan, if anyone ever tells me that I talk myself up too much, is to say something along the lines of

Well of course I keep everyone in the loop about what I'm doing, I'm a member of this team and we're all working together.

Or

Well of course I'm advocating for myself. Who else is going to?

But it would be weird to get told that, as all I'm doing is telling people resources are available or have been updated. Equally important, as well: I'm also quick to praise my colleagues and lift them up for doing their jobs well or going above and beyond. This improves the stature of my team with management, and people respond well to recognition.