Credit Where It’s Due

Why giving credit can build an idea-sharing culture.

In search of the best solutions, it's natural to brainstorm ideas with a team.

These types of sessions are some of my favorite meetings - the opportunity to toss around ideas, kick the tires on concepts, and voice opinions in a safe space. One of the most common approaches to these sessions is to start with an idea and allow the team to progressively build on that concept ("Yes and-ing" if you like).

But there is a pitfall that's worth acknowledging - it's easy for the person who spoke about an idea last to get credit for it. This is why one of the most important phrases you can keep in your back pocket is "credit where it's due".

Ensuring we take the time to recognize members of the team for their ideas and contributions is critical. By doing so, we cultivate a culture that allows for the free exchange of ideas without fear of credit-stealing or the politics of presenting thoughts more broadly.

A culture where ideas are freely exchanged should be the goal. And ensuring credit is shared and people are recognized for their ideas is a critical step to building this culture.

Thanks for spending time with me in my workshop,

Eric