It's amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit. Harry S Truman
President Truman had decided that Secretary of State, General George Marshall's name should be attached to his plan for massive European relief following World War II. Many in the White House objected, believing instead that the President should get credit for the initiative. Truman, however, wisely recognized that a reluctant Congress would have a much harder time voting down a plan that carried the name of one of America's greatest wartime heroes. Truman was right and the Marshall Plan provided the foundation for Europe's spectacular post war recovery.
Too often insecure leaders make the mistake of believing that every success has to have their name attached. They've forgotten that effective leaders make things happen– usually by promoting the successful efforts of others. When those successes occur, the best leaders focus the credit on those actually doing the work. This kind of feedback is generative, building confidence and producing even more spectacular results in the future.
Don't worry, people won't forget who's responsible for creating the environment that fostered success and the team won't forget who helped them succeed.
George Ebert is the President of Trinity River Seminars and Consulting, a firm specializing in the custom design and delivery of team building, personal growth and ethical development programs. Mr. Ebert is a highly sought after speaker, educator and consultant with over thirty years experience in both the public and private sectors. He has presented widely throughout the Unites States. He is the author of the management cult classic, Climbing From the Fifth Station: A guide to building teams that work!
