Comments on: Is It More Important To Promote Myself or Promote the Team?

By: The Digerati Life

The Digerati Life — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:46:25 +0000

There’s a time and place to take credit for yourself vs the team. Where’ I’m currently working, I feel that the success of the individual has been so closely interlinked with that of the team that we no longer think of what we do as work done by the individual. Most of the time, we take credit as a team and it almost feels awkward to take credit for yourself — this must mean the “team spirit” where we work is exceptionally strong. For us, any individual credit and other issues are typically taken in private.

By: 60 in 3 - Fitness and Health

60 in 3 - Fitness and Health — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:55:37 +0000

You can credit the team and yourself in most cases, at least in the field were I work. For example, if I led a project then I want to get full credit for that project but I’ll also make sure the people I work with get credit for the work they did. Don’t be afraid to take the credit for the work you did, it’s only when you take someone else’s credit that you start causing issues.

Gal

By: MVP

MVP — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:07:09 +0000

I wish I was in a position to even take credit for anything. My boss takes all the credit for himself. Yes, he’s a hard worker, but he cherry-picks all the big, noticeable projects and leaves the grunt work for the rest of us (who are all highly capable and well educated). Just once, after he gets a pat on the back for his work, I’d like for him to turn around and thank the rest of us for taking care of everything else so he could DO the big things.

I think a good boss takes the hits when a member of the team screws up, and applauds the team when someone does well. That’s not to say an exceptionally high performer shouldn’t be duly rewarded. But in almost every work environment, success takes EVERYONE, even down to the folks answering the phones and keeping the place clean.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:54:15 +0000

Most of what goes on at work is nonsense anyway. If someone deserves credit, I give it to them. I don’t take time to toot my own horn either. If you work for a boss with a brain they know if you are doing a good job or not. If you don’t (most of us probably don’t) then you can play the games if you want, but would you really feel good about yourself if you did? And what value is recognition if it comes from a fool?

I wouldn’t take the ‘when in Rome’ advice too far either. Should the whole gang at Enron have just gone along with the good ol’ boys in charge? What if someone in that circle had stood up for what is right? Extreme example sure, but you shouldn’t compromise your values at any level for a job.

By: dong

dong — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:09:16 +0000

I think the most important thing to do when you’re young is to find a job with a good boss, one who will both mentor and give you credit. When you’re young, it’s not about the current opportunities, but opportunities in the future. A good boss will both give you credit, and take credit for your work. The latter is not necessarily a bad thing as long as they share in the largesses at a later date.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:54:06 +0000

As I said, it may be that this problem of team-based work pops up much less in my field than in others. I’m on the editorial staff of a magazine. The final magazine is definitely a team effort, but each of us has our own articles/departments that we are responsible for.

I’m just saying that in principle, there needn’t be a contradiction between “take credit for the work you did” and “don’t take credit for the work other people did.”

By: guinness416

guinness416 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:44:27 +0000

Why is it not possible to take credit for team based work?

“Oh, thanks for the compliment Client/Boss. Yeah I worked a lot of late nights on this one, wanted to make sure everything we reported was appropriate. But to give credit where it’s due, Joseph and Mary did a great job on the mechanical and electrical scopes. And Jane was a great help to me in completing the sustainability analysis. But yeah, I’m very satisfied with how the final report turned out.”

By: s

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:43:52 +0000

PS. I do acknowledge that people are not staying at jobs as long — I just don’t think it’s quite as extreme as that statistic makes it seem.

By: s

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:42:00 +0000

You keep mentioning how on average people have “8 jobs by the time they are 32″. I suspect that this includes the temporary, part-time, and summer jobs that have become common for high school and college kids. If that’s the case, then this statistic isn’t really as meaningful.

I had worked about 10 different jobs by the time I graduated college. I have had 1 job since. I don’t think that indicates much of anything.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:41:44 +0000

I was usually in environments where the other side of the coin was prevalent: rather than the team taking the credit/blame for missing a deadline… well, you get the idea. :D When things went well, however, the entire team took the credit to others (our clients, for example), but within the team, we were sure to take the credit for our part in a success.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:40:27 +0000

Perhaps looking towards being useful to society as a whole, instead of oneself, will solve this dilemma. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If we all put others happiness in front of our own, the workplace will be more productive and a nicer place to be…and it is the right thing to do.

By: Trent

Trent — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:33:29 +0000

How do you “take credit” for team-based work, Johanna?

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:30:13 +0000

Why not take credit for the work that you actually do, and give others credit for the work that they actually do? Or am I unusually lucky to work in a field where it’s possible to do this?