How to make my voice heard without getting backs up

[popularinthe80s]

I work in a small, very supportive, very friendly team (v lucky). There's my manager, another member of staff who's slightly lower on the food chain but still senior, a relatively new, very bright colleague, and myself.

The organisation are kind of supportive. They are paying for a CPD qualification, which is brilliant, but not the full version, which could actually improve my job prospects. My pay (and my colleague's) is very low.

I've worked for other places on far better pay. But there's a lot that's great about this job - hugely supportive manager, our little team are very bonded, very open to new ideas. Pay and prospects iffy but day to day very creative, rewarding work.

However, I'm feeling it's hard to get my voice heard and I'm possibly being stereotyped as the older, less bright one. My new colleague/peer is brilliant - brings lots of skills and qualities we need, and very easy to work with. But I notice that a pattern is developing where I make a suggestion (often an IT/communications one) - it's passed over - very bright new colleague makes suggestion - it's adopted as VBNC's suggestion.
This is very tricky. I'm well aware of VBNC's skills and talents and we need them! I don't want to take her glory. I'm just concerned that I'm not heard. This matters, because my position isn't very solid (it is contract wise, but not promotion-wise) and I need to be known as capable and useful for them to consider promoting me. Brutally speaking, if they don't, I'll have to leave, as long term the pay isn't viable.
How do I make myself heard, though, without sounding defensive/frustrating team/setting up a rivalry with VBNC, whom I very much respect and like?

Start by reading nice girls dont get the corner office.

That's very annoying. I would wait until you have a live example, maybe also have another recent one ready for back up , then in your normal catch up with your manager, just one to one, I'd mention it. If you like the job and want to stay there I'd couch it in a way as though i was asking for advice as to how i could modify my behaviour to ensure when i make the suggestion it is heard.

This way, it's non confrontational, but you're making the point that you have been the one making those suggestions in the first place AND that you're noticing it.

I would avoid talking about the colleague directly, other than to refer to the fact that (insert suggestion.you made) was picked up after that person suggested it. It's great that you're so complimentary about your colleague and recognise their strengths bring something to the team but don't bend over yourself backwards to go on and that, she can sing her own praises in her one to ones. Focus on your strengths and what you want to see changing for you.

You'll know if it's the sort of place you want to continue working in once you've seen your manager's reaction to your one to one.

Thanks both. Good advice. I've kind of fluffed this, as I asked for a couple of 121s over the last few weeks (we're all working from home, so little catch ups over the phone aren't as obvious/disruptive), tried to say it, chickened out and ended up waffling about something else. So I'm ending up looking needy. Whereas in fact, I'm annoyed.
I think I will summon up courage for another 121 and this time SAY it. Bloody SAY it. With recent live example.

At my last review I was told to ‘ask for more’. My lovely boss left soon after, and my new ones kept overlooking me. So I have started asking for more for myself, and doing it in a formal/grown up way - not demanding, not begging, just asserting myself by explaining my experience and how it impacts me and looking to work with them on improving things. It’s been so painful but it’s absolutely worked, and I can’t tell you how it’s helped my self worth.