There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. – Indira Gandhi
How many people will claim credit? The one working on it, or the five who were supervising?
What does that mean?
As is so often the case, this is a longer quote, shortened for use on Twitter.
“My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.”
These are interesting words from a family of movers and shakers. If you have ever put any significant effort into a project, only to have someone else claim credit, or even say “me too,” then you likely understand the meaning of the first half of the quote.
The quote, after talking about the two kinds of people, states the scarcity of the people actually doing the work. It also urges us to spend as much time in that group and as little time in the other, as we possibly can.
In reality, there is a third group of people which vastly outnumber the other two, combined. That is the people who neither do things, nor seek to take credit for them. That isn’t a group in which I want to claim membership, do you?
Why is doing the work important?
In the first place, if no one ever did the work, nothing would ever get done, right? So not doing work at all is out of the question, unless you’re one of those who like to let others work, so long as your life is sufficiently comfortable. I hope that’s not what you are like.
Here, the primary concern of the quote is the difference between those who actually are doing the work, and those claiming to do the work, but haven’t really helped (or haven’t helped in proportion with their claims). In my opinion, that means not being a jerk and claiming to have done work which you did not do.
These kind of people are far too common in television shows and movies. Especially when they are not portrayed as villains or at least people not to emulate. Unfortunately, these slackers and thieves of other’s work are often shown as the heroes or at least sympathetic characters. Just don’t do it, don’t be like them.
Where can I apply this in my life?
I’m sure you’ve seen them, at work or in social situations. They’re always too busy to do the real work, but more than willing to help at the very end, and be in all the pictures of the victory celebration, right? If you haven’t, you are very lucky.
But first, some soul searching. Have you ever, or at least in the last few years, behaved in this manner? Have you claimed credit where the credit was actually due to someone else? Have you been that person of whom the quote speaks, trying to take the credit for the work of another?
Was it recently enough that you can apologize to the person you wronged? Whether it was at work or in a club or social organization, someone feels at least a little hurt over your action, right? So are you ready to swallow hard and talk to them? In person would be best. On the phone or even by email or text is better than nothing.
Once you’ve done that, consider why you did it in the first place. This may take some time, because I want you to dig deep, not just give a superficial answer. Then, with the reason in mind, find at least two ways to prevent this from happening in the future.
Now the question becomes what to do in case of someone else trying to grab some of your credit. How do you react? Do you make a scene and call them a liar, or do you find a slightly gentler method of pointing out your level of involvement, and their lack thereof?
There isn’t a correct answer to the question of how to handle the situation, because every situation is unique. You will have to determine what you can do, what you are willing to do, and what the repercussions of your actions will likely be.
If you have thought of the possibility beforehand, you are far more likely to be able to react gracefully if the situation should ever arise. If you haven’t, you’re likely to handle it with a bit less grace, and that wouldn’t be the best way to go about it, would it?
There will always be people trying to get that which isn’t theirs. Some will be deliberately manipulating the situation to their own advantage, while others may be acting out of desperation. How you handle the situation should take these possibilities into account.
It won’t be easy being one of the hard workers, but someone has to do it. How you learn to deal with those who don’t work as hard, but want equal recognition, or even top billing, that will likely be even harder. But you will have to learn, because those people will always exist.
One option is to give the credit away, rather than hoard it. Those who know you will understand. Those who understand how things work, they will also understand. The rest will be clueless. But you will have impressed the people who understand. What else is there, but start the next project?
Life at the top is always more interesting, but the word interesting has different definitions depending on the situation. Still, I believe it is worth the effort, even if others try to steal some of the credit.
From: Twitter, @sogirlslove
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/i/indiragand136134.html
Photo by General Wesc
Note: Despite sharing a famous last name, she isn’t related to “The” Gandhi. She is of the Nehru line, and the grandfather mentioned in the quote is likely Motilal Nehru. Can anyone confirm this is the correct grandfather?
Happy birthday to Indira Gandhi, a prominent political leader from India, born 19 November, 1917.
