Hidden Factories of Helpfulness


How do you balance your behind-the-scenes work from your foreground work?

As a manager, I've encouraged my team members to avoid becoming "hidden factories of helpfulness." While I don't want to discourage anyone from ever being helpful - I also want to make sure it's not being hidden. It isn't simply about giving credit where credit is due. There's also the reality that being a hidden factory of helpfulness can mask deficiencies. It can hide a broken process, impede someone's growth, and it's also a breeding ground for resentment.

Despite my own advice, there is one specific area where I'll happily hide behind the curtain: Whenever there's an opportunity to build connection, cohesion, trust, or strengthen the team or our output.

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