Lynn and I just finished two very cool days with a new client in Illinois. They’re a community bank that’s been really successful for a really long time without our help, but they believe we can help them get to the next level. Throughout both days, we pressed for secrets to their success, and person after person heaped praise onto other members of the team.
They all gave credit to everyone else. No one took credit. No. One. It wasn’t false modesty. It was very genuine, and it was very interesting.
On day two, one of the bank officers, Angie, said the secret to their success was that they didn’t have any of the iPeople.
iPeople?
“Yes,” she said. “You know… somebody who’s always taking credit for everything… ‘I’ did this… ‘I’ did that… I, I, I, me, me, me.”
Ah! “I” People.
I knew what she meant. You do, too. You can think of someone who’s an iPerson right now, can’t you?
Don’t be him.
If you do good work, the right people always know. Always.
Spend your time doing good work and being mindful of—and pointing out—what other people do well.
It’ll make you really successful for a really long time, too.
Great article. This world and the people in it would be much better off if we would figure out “it is not about me”!
Thanks for your great encouragement, motivation and thought provoking articles!