The Work You Do Isn't Just a Task, It's a Craft
There’s a quiet kind of power that comes from doing your work well. Not just getting it done, but doing it right.
You know your tools. You’ve developed instincts no training manual could ever teach. You’ve had days where your precision kept a project moving smoothly, and no one even noticed. But you knew.
There’s a word for that: craftsmanship.
And if it feels like fewer people notice the craftsmanship in today’s workplace… you’re not imagining it. But here’s the thing: it still matters.
The Science Connection: Tacit Knowledge and The Doorman Fallacy
There’s a reason that true skill can’t always be taught.
It's called tacit knowledge. It's the kind you learn through experience, pattern recognition, judgment, timing. It can’t be outsourced. And it definitely can’t be captured in a quick tutorial. It is invisible, but priceless.
The challenge, though, is that by nature, tacit knowledge and the value you bring to work everyday isn't always seen. People don't know what's going on behind the scenes when you do what you do.
Behavioral economists have discussed an example of what happens when true value can't be seen or measureed. It's called the Doorman Fallacy: a concept that shows what happens when decision-makers cut out a role like a doorman without realizing the hidden value that role provided — security, hospitality, accountability, and culture. In this example, the management team didn't reallze all the ways that having a doorman upleveled the reputation and clientele of their hotel......until he wasn't there.
What It Looks Like
- You’ve mastered how to get things done faster without compromising quality.
- You’ve prevented countless problems before they even happened, but no one saw the fires they didn’t have to put out.
- You’ve developed workflows and adapted over the years, but it’s assumed you’re “just doing your job.”
- You're the steady one. The reliable one. The one they count on… but the one they seldom recognize.
If this feels familiar, let’s reset the narrative from within. Because if your work has hidden value that others can't see, consider this: the value of what you bring to the table may also be hidden from you!
Tool of the Week: POC Reset — Pause, Orient, Choose
If your motivation has taken a hit because no one sees it, or if you're doubting yourself, here’s your moment to reclaim your confidence.
Instead of reacting to whether others see your value, use this moment to pause and reflect on how you honor your craft.
âś‹ Pause: Name the Pattern
Notice when you start feeling dismissed, undervalued, overlooked, or doubting yourself.
Call it out internally:
“This is one of those moments where my hidden value feels hidden from me too.”
🧠Orient: Reclaim the Context
Ask yourself:
- What have I built or contributed that isn’t obvious?
- What problems have I solved quietly?
- What skills have I honed that make me a stabilizing force?
Reconnect with the full story of your effort, not just the output.
🎯 Choose: Respect your Craft
This is where you take back your motivation and your integrity.
Choose to take pride in your work, not because others recognize it, but because you do.
Choose to hone your craft, not for show, but for strength.
Choose to keep building, even when no one’s applauding.
Because the benefits and positive impact you’ve had on others might not even be visible to yourself.
âś… The Bottom Line
Craftsmanship isn’t always noticeable, but it leaves a lasting mark. You may not always see the ripple effect of your steady effort, but it’s there.
So never downplay the importance of the role you play.
đź“Ś One More Thing Before You Go
Take 5 minutes today to list 3 things you've become excellent at, even if no one else has said it out loud.
Don’t wait for permission to take pride in your work.
Choose to be an artisan in a world full of shortcuts.
