In teams and workplaces, there is often a contrast between two types of individuals: self-promoters and hard workers.
- Self-Promoters (“Know-It-Alls”)
Self-promoters often act as if they know everything. They dominate conversations, share their opinions freely and show confidence, even when they lack the expertise.
When receiving information from a self-promoter, I’ve learned not to respond immediately. Instead, I double-check. They often commit, but it’s wise to take these promises with a grain of salt until proven otherwise.
- Hard workers
On the other hand, there are those who focus on delivering results rather than talking about them. They complete tasks with speed and quality. However, this comes with two hidden costs:
- Their consistent performance leads to assumptions that they can handle more work.
- Unlike self-promoters, they rarely receive public praise for their efforts.
Superiors firstly turn to them when something needs to be done. But how much respect and support do they receive in return?
Therefore, leader should always ask tough questions:
- Am I truly respecting the contributions of most reliable team members?
- Am I giving them room to grow, express their opinions and share?
- Am I taking advantage of their dedication by putting on them more work while self-promoters take the spotlight?
Leadership isn’t just about results. It is about recognizing and valuing people who make those results possible. Real strength of a team lies in its ability to lift every member. As leaders, we must challenge ourselves to see beyond and appreciate the silent dedication of those who truly keep things moving.
