One of my friends recently shared her frustration. She’s one of the people who actually moves the needle. The one who anticipates problems before they happen. Who simplifies the complex. Who makes hard things look effortless. And because she’s that good, she often gets lumped into a blanket “thanks to everyone” message that feels like a participation trophy.
No one calls her name. No one seems to see her effort or real expertise.

When expertise makes a job look easy, it becomes invisible and the “in between” gets ignored

Owners and CEOs often understand the beginning—the idea, the strategy, the big kickoff. And they definitely enjoy the end—the results, the win, the deliverables. But it’s the in between where the real magic happens and that’s the part most leaders take for granted.

Why It Happens:

• Invisible effort: When you’ve spent years honing your skills, you make things look simple—even when they’re not.
• Lack of transparency: If people can’t see the steps, they assume it’s easy.
• Comparison bias: Surrounded by mediocrity, expertise can be mistaken for simplicity.

So, what’s the cost of overlooking this quiet excellence?

• Low morale – When real effort goes unrecognized, motivation dwindles.
• Turnover risk – Talented people eventually leave places that don’t see them.
• Disengagement – If no one notices, why bother going the extra mile?

How to Fix It

If you lead a team, especially one filled with highly competent people, here’s how to keep them:

• Name their brilliance – Offer specific feedback. Don’t just say “good job.” Say what made it good.
• Acknowledge publicly – Give credit where it’s due, not just to the loudest voices or final presenters.
• Make the process visible – Invite team members to share how they solved a problem, not just the result.
• Recognize in ways that matter – Some want a shoutout. Some want autonomy. Some just want to know you saw.
• Track and celebrate milestones – Not everything needs to be a home run. Singles and doubles count too.

What if, like my friend, you’re the one feeling invisible?

Start documenting your wins and show your work—not to boast, but to build awareness. Sometimes we need to teach people how to see what we do.

Strategic Reflection Prompt:

Where in your business (or team) is the “in between” being overlooked—and how can you start recognizing the quiet contributors who keep the whole thing running?

You may not even realize what you’re losing. The people holding things together in the “in between” rarely complain. They don’t demand attention.
They just quietly leave—taking their expertise, initiative, and invisible magic with them. If you’re not 100% sure who’s really driving results on your team—or how to keep them—Let’s talk.