Taking Credit from others is making a Claim for You

     Why take credit from where it is due? Take, for example, an outside group that successfully organizes a group of people to take action in their community. The people in this outside group, essentially an organizer of change, should be confident enough in their skills and experience to let go of the fledgling organization. Ethically speaking, they should indeed give credit to the new organization when its teamwork results in successful and notable events in the community. In short, outside groups should be content enough with their success in setting an atmosphere of teamwork among the people they organize, and nothing more.

     Now, the outside group, mentioned above, may explain their wanting to take credit for successful events of their constituent organization as a misperception caused by miscommunication in the media (for example, a newspaper). However, the outside group prides itself in getting the right information to the masses; it should inherently know that ineffective communication too many times, whether it be in the media or by word of mouth, confuses people, makes them feel left out, and may emotionally hurt their sense of purpose.

     A real life example of the above situation recently occurred in a small, semi-rural county. About thirty years ago, parents and community leaders in this county were determined to have a county-level junior livestock show (the Show). The local County (agricultural) Agent and the vocational-agriculture instructor at one of the county high schools were instrumental in getting parents and community leaders to organize a junior livestock association that would, among other community events, put on an annual junior livestock Show. Eventually, the association was incorporated and it acquired an IRS number for non-profit status.

     Over time, the junior livestock association underwent changes and evolved. Its annual Show evolved into a bi-county junior livestock event. Today, as they have done over thirty years, 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) youth exhibit their livestock project animals in scheduled contests. At an accompanying Mini-farm, area youngsters and adults can visit animals and agricultural products on display. However, something in the publicity of this year’s animal contest results and Mini-farm activities confused many.

     In regards to junior livestock show and accompanying mini-farm publicity, a local newspaper article left out all mention of the Show’s true name and the grass roots organization which organizes and puts on this annual showcase of 4-H and FFA Youth livestock activities. The article gave the Show a different name, the name of an outside group that claims to have organized and claims to put on the Show and Mini-farm each year. Granted, the outside group has contributed to successful operations of the Show. And the County Agent, who helped organize the Show thirty years ago, was employed by the outside group. However, the Show and accompanying Min-farm are truly local events made possible by parents and youth in the community.

     So, why take credit from where it is due? My feelings are that, as in the example described above, some people or groups lack the confidence to let go and develop other relationships (or organizations). As long as they hold on to that someone or something, he, she, or they eventually take ownership of that person or thing. Others, close to this situation, will undoubtedly be affected by the claim – in other words, the credit.