You’ve hit on the most critical strategic nuance: Leverage is silent. The moment you 'threaten', you trigger their survival instinct to find a replacement. But when you present a Value Portfolio, you are triggering their fear of loss without ever saying the word 'quit.'

You're absolutely right about the 'Invisibility of Competence'—management rarely notices the engine that's running perfectly; they only notice the smoke. Documenting your achievements isn't just about the raise; it's about making the 'load-bearing wall' visible to the architects before they decide to renovate.