---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not everyone in an organization is in a…"
description: "\"Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordina..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/307/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_advantage_not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a_95217.jpg"
---

#  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…” quote by Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/307/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_advantage_not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a_95217.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/307/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_advantage_not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a_95217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/307/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_advantage_not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a_95217.jpg)

> “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.”

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

## 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

null

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[Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

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