Rule 1: Get Credit Where Credit is Not Due
Sunday, January 6, 2008 at 12:32AM In management, most of the work that counts will be done by someone else. You go to meetings. People don't get promoted for going to meetings. So the key thing to remember is that you and your staff are all part of a team. If they do something good, you've done something good. If they've worked their ass off implementing a technology solution that adds significant value to the business, you've worked your ass off too. Remember, there's no "I" in "Team", but there is a "me" if you look close enough. So when great things happen, make sure to take the credit, especially behind closed doors where your staff can't hear you.
The ability to get credit for a job well done by your staff depends on your ability to hire good people. Do not subscribe to the political process of Negative Selection: "The person on the top of the hierarchy, wishing to remain in power forever, chooses his associates with the prime criterion of incompetence - they must not be competent enough to remove him from power. The associates do the same with those below them in the hierarchy, and the hierarchy is progressively filled with more and more incompetent people." This is the tactic Mulhausen employs (he inherited me, unfortunately for him). This will get you nowhere.
If you hire well, you will have dedicated employees who work long and hard to achieve highly valued results that you can then take credit for doing. Remember, you're a team. But more importantly, you're the "me" in the team.
Another important element of this rule is for you to always appear busy. Gossiping, socializing, flirting via email and instant messaging, and playing practical jokes on trusted friends at work are all ways to keep the appearance of hard work if done properly. Loud gossip by the water cooler is not acceptable; a closed door meeting in the conference room with your buddies is. I'll address flirting in more detail later when I discuss Sexual Harassment and how to avoid allegations.
You can also get credit where credit is not due from other departments if you offered any assistance related to whatever they've delivered. Even if you just answered a simple question that helped enable the success of the project. But don't jump the gun. If the project fails, make sure you deny any and all involvement and contribute to murmuring behind the project leader's back. I will also address this in more detail when I discuss how to avoid blame even when it's completely your fault.
That's it for Rule Number 1. I certainly encourage comments, criticisms, and addendums from the readers. Remember, these are just the basics and meant to be used as a general guide.
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Reader Comments (1)
Couldn't agree with you more. I hire people that make me look good. If I look good, then my boss looks good and that's all he cares about. Oh, and another tip, keep the bluetooth headset in your ear as you are walking through the halls with frequent "sures" and "rights" to really make it appear as though you are important and really have a ton of shit going on.