Rule 18. Give Credit to the Team When It Deserves It

Just as you must always stand up and take the blame, so too must you always heap praise and credit on your team when things go well. If that fabulous sale to Client X comes off because you happened to stay up all night working on it and then used an old contact from a previous job and then swung it because you happened to know something the competition didn’t—why, then you say, “The team did it.”

Taking the blame does generate loads of loyalty, but so too does giving the team the credit. Say it loudly, in public, sincerely, but do say it. And don’t do it tongue in cheek with “My team did it,” as if you are giving it credit but making sure everyone knows who really was responsible. The implication that it is your team isn’t necessary. Everyone knows it is your team so there is no need to mention it, ever. It is OK to say, “It did a great job; it is a fantastic team. I’m incredibly lucky to have it.” This implies you had nothing to do with it, and yet everyone knows it is your team and you are its leader, so the team will love you, and everyone else will think you incredibly humble and self-effacing. Well done you.