How to Protect Your Career from Recognition Thieves

All people want to be recognized and praised for their accomplishments. It makes us feel significant and unique, and motivates us to achieve. However, recognition thieves rob us of the proper credit and worm their way into the spotlight by stealing the results of hard work performed by co-workers or followers. They are especially adept at robbing ideas, originality, resourcefulness and creativity; but the good news is they can be stopped. To prevent these rotten apples from spoiling your career barrel, take these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Heighten your awareness of the people around you and their unique contributions of word, thought and deed. Yield to them if they are first in surfacing new ways of doing things.
2. Learn how to continually market your own expertise and competence without becoming overbearing and arrogant.
3. Only take credit for what you do or accomplish. Don’t become a recognition thief yourself.
4. Compliment others and help them look important and successful in front of the people who are important to them.
5. Character matters. Remember that honor comes from recognizing and praising another person for a job well done and acknowledging their contributions.