You worked hard on a project. You were organized, efficient, and everything went according to plan. In other words, you kicked butt and orchestrated a major success with no drama. But somehow, no one seemed to notice.

Meanwhile, your colleague doesn't prepare at all, drama ensues, things are in shambles, and then miraculously, they pull it off at the last minute. But instead of being reprimanded for their poor organization, your colleague gets applauded for their nearly crisis-inducing work. Sound familiar?

During my 10-plus year tenure in the television industry in New York City as a broadcast journalist, I experienced scenarios like this on a regular basis. Crisis creates visibility, whereas planning and process often goes unnoticed. It frustrated me to no end, probably the same way it frustrates you in your own workplace.

If you're like most, you want to be recognized for your hard work and thoughtful preparation, but you're not keen to complain about it either. Don't feel petty about this. Study after study has shown that the key to keeping people happy and engaged at work (and in life) comes down to feeling appreciated.

So if you've found yourself feeling unappreciated and unmotivated, here are a few things you can do to get recognized for the great product, service, or effort you deliver.

1. Get Reviewed

Don't wait for a formal review with your boss, client, or partner. Instead, be proactive and schedule lunch or a meeting to review your recent projects, talk about your progress, and get on the same page about what's next for you. Approach this from a genuine, "I care about my work and want to do better" perspective. Seek out feedback and growth opportunities, and it'll go a long way.

2. Ask For More

If you're not being recognized for your work, propose or request a special project for yourself - something that will grab people's attention by going above-and-beyond what's expected of you. Or, when a challenging project is up for grabs, volunteer to take it on. This display of commitment will make you stand out and illustrate that you have the organization and skills to get things done.

3. Spread The Word

With social media and a personal website, you have your own distribution network. If others aren't recognizing you for your work, spread the word of your success with professional updates and additions to your LinkedIn page, Facebook, and Twitter. You can even take an extra step and breakdown your recent success as a mini case study for your blog. This isn't bragging - it's career development. You never know who's reading and it could lead to that next big step in your career.

4. Say "Thank You"

Something you can employ with great success after a big win is writing hand-written thank you cards to the team that you worked with. Hand-written is preferable because emails are simply too easy to delete or overlook. Be sure to thank your colleagues for their hard work and show your appreciation - after all, recognition is often a two-way street.

5. Recognize Yourself

This may seem odd, but it's critical. Don't always wait for someone else to pat you on the back. If you did a great job, congratulate, appreciate, and reward yourself in small ways. As my grandmother once told me, "What other people think about you is none of your business. What matters is what you think about yourself."