They Know What Counts
They do not treat every task as equal. They understand which work reduces risk, moves important projects, helps the team, or makes their manager's life easier.
They Are Visible Without Performing
They do not need to brag constantly. They send clean updates, keep a proof folder, and make sure useful work does not vanish into Slack.
They Bring Judgment
They ask what could fail, bring tradeoffs, and make recommendations. That is different from just being busy.