Not everyone in an organization is in a position to…
“Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary and the expected - even if they do it very well. The extent to which a job is routinized fails to give an advantage to anyone doing it because 'success' is seen as inherent in the very establishment of the position and the organization surrounding it. Neither persons nor organizations get 'credit' for doing the mandatory or the expected.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Routine roles are seen as inherent to the position, so individuals rarely receive credit for merely fulfilling expected duties.
In simple terms: Credit goes to novelty, not routine
Key Takeaway
Routine work is invisible
Themes
organizational behavior
power dynamics
recognition
role theory
performance
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
observation
analytical
When to use this quote
- employee evaluations
- team meetings
- career advancement
- performance reviews
Key Concepts
credit
routine
power
expectations
Practical Applications
- leadership training
- HR policy design
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations better acknowledge essential routine contributions?
- What mechanisms can prevent credit from being monopolized by high‑visibility tasks?
A Different Perspective
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