Support role dynamics
Does anyone else work in a support role and feel absolutely invisible? I work for the local foundation of a larger system, and we’re a two person team. I support our Executive Director, and lately I’ve really been struggling with how invisible I feel in the role.
From the board’s perspective, I’m seen as - the person who orders food and prints papers - and the only acknowledgment I get is for things that completely downplay the actual scope of my work. Meanwhile, ideas I develop are presented by my ED and naturally get associated only with him. And frankly, he seems happy to receive all of the acknowledgement.
The hard part is that behind the scenes, I’m doing far more strategic work than anyone realizes. I develop and structure our agendas, create stewardship concepts, prepare talking points, shape messaging, coordinate projects, and help drive the overall direction of a lot of what we do. But none of that is visible externally, so people assume I’m just handling the basic logistics.
I came from a leadership role where I led teams and ran meetings. Now I leave meetings feeling awful because I barely feel acknowledged as a professional in the room.
I think my ED does appreciate me, which I value, but it still feels discouraging knowing no one really knows how much of the work I’m behind.
Am I just being a baby? How do you navigate this without becoming bitter or losing confidence in yourself?