Management Tip of the Day: Give Someone Else Credit If You Want to Be Seen

HBR 23 June 2014

We all get trapped in the "credit game." 

Everyone focuses on what he or she personally did to contribute to a win and ignores the parts played by others.

 It’s a zero-sum game, leading to people feeling unappreciated and sapping everyone's willingness to sacrifice for a collective goal. Break the cycle by initiating a positive one: a culture of appreciation.

 If you share why you appreciate someone else, he or she will likely return the sentiment. Sharing heartfelt appreciation will spur collaboration and mend tense relationships, opening up space for real work to be done. 

The more unrewarded you feel, the more difficult this is to do – but the only way to get the ball to come back to you is by getting it rolling. 

Adapted from “ If You’re Feeling Unappreciated, Give Someone Else Credit” by Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer.