The Invisible Psychology Trick Behind Who Gets Promoted

Let’s talk about that one person we all know at work.

They’re not the smartest in the room. They’re not doing anything wildly impressive. But they speak up in every meeting. Their name pops up in emails. They’re quick to say, “Happy to help!” even when their contribution is minor.

And somehow… they’re the one who gets promoted.

Meanwhile, you’re doing solid work. Maybe even better work. But it feels like no one’s really noticing. And if they are, they’re not acting on it.

It’s frustrating—but it’s not random.

There’s actually a well-studied psychological reason behind this. And once you understand it, you can start using it to your advantage.

The Simple Science of Being Seen

Back in the 1960s, a psychologist named Robert Zajonc ran an interesting experiment. He showed people random images—faces, symbols, nonsense words. Some were shown once, others multiple times.

Then he asked participants which ones they liked more.

Almost every time, people preferred the images they had seen before—even if they didn’t consciously remember them.

This became known as the Mere Exposure Effect: the more we’re exposed to something, the more we tend to like and trust it. No deep thinking involved—just familiarity.

And this doesn’t just apply to abstract shapes or strangers’ faces. It applies to people at work, too.

Why Good Work Isn’t Always Enough

Let’s be honest—doing your job well is expected. It’s the starting point. It’s what everyone’s supposed to do.

But in fast-paced work environments, people don’t always notice who’s quietly getting things done in the background. Managers are busy. Colleagues are focused on their own goals.

So who gets remembered?

Usually, the person they’ve heard from recently. The one who commented in the meeting. The one who shared an update in Slack. The one whose name shows up in more places.

Not necessarily because they’re better—just because they’re more visible.

Visibility Builds Trust (Whether We Realize It or Not)

When someone is seen often, they start to feel familiar. And familiar people are more likely to be trusted—subconsciously. It’s the same reason we tend to gravitate toward familiar brands at the grocery store or trust someone more after bumping into them a few times at events.

In the workplace, that trust can look like this:

• “Let’s have them lead the next project.”

• “They always seem engaged.”

• “They’d be a good fit for that new role.”

These impressions aren’t always based on deep evaluations. Sometimes, they’re just gut reactions based on familiarity.

How to Be Visible (Without Being Annoying)

You don’t need to reinvent yourself or become the loudest person in the room. A few small actions can make a big difference:

• Say one thing in every meeting. Even a thoughtful question counts.

• Post a quick project update in your team channel once a week.

• Volunteer for a small cross-team task. It gives new people a chance to see your name.

• Send a short follow-up message after completing something big.

• Be consistent. Visibility works over time—not just in bursts.

You’re not doing this to brag. You’re doing it so your work is seen. So you are seen.

If That Feels a Bit... Uncomfortable

You’re not alone. A lot of high-performing people shy away from this kind of visibility because it feels like self-promotion. Or they assume the right people will just notice their hard work.

But here’s the truth: people can’t recognize what they don’t see.

Being visible isn’t about ego. It’s about communication. You’re not “selling yourself”—you’re helping others understand the value you bring.

And in reality, not showing up can look like you’re disengaged or uninterested, even when that’s far from the truth.

The Takeaway

Here’s the big idea:

Promotions don’t always go to the most qualified person. They often go to the most visible one.

Because familiarity creates trust. And trust leads to opportunity.

So if you’ve ever felt overlooked despite doing great work, ask yourself:
Who actually knows what I’m working on? How often do they see it?

This week, try doing one small thing to increase your visibility:

• Speak up.

• Share an update.

• Reach out to someone outside your team.

It doesn’t need to be big. It just needs to be consistent.

What about you?
Have you tried being more visible at work—or seen someone else use this approach?