Do you prefer to be in the spotlight or to work in the background? - SmartBrief

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Do you prefer to be in the spotlight or to work in the background?

SmartPulse -- our weekly nonscientific reader poll in SmartBrief on Leadership -- tracks feedback from more than 210,000 business leaders. Do you prefer to be in the spotlight or to work in the background?

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Leadership

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SmartPulse — our weekly nonscientific reader poll in SmartBrief on Leadership — tracks feedback from more than 210,000 business leaders. We run the poll question each week in our e-newsletter.

Do you prefer to be in the spotlight or to work in the background?

  • I love the spotlight and getting attention for my work: 23%
  • I prefer to do my work in the background and stay out of the limelight: 77%

Out of sight… Clearly the majority of you prefer to do your great work in the background and stay out of the limelight. There are risks that come with that approach. It’s possible your great work might not get recognized or, even worse, could be attributed to one of your more visible colleagues. Be sure you get the visibility you deserve for your great work. For those who prefer the limelight, the risk you face is being perceived as arrogant or self-important. Be sure you bring others up with you when you’re recognized for great work because it’s rare that you ever accomplish anything alone.

Mike Figliuolo is managing director of thoughtLEADERS. Before launching his own company, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. His is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He’s the author of three leadership books: “One Piece of Paper,” “Lead Inside the Box,” and “The Elegant Pitch.”