My morning walks are a time for thinking, reflecting, and listening to audiobooks. I constantly hit pause on the book and record on my phone dictating a newsletter based on whatever I am listening to.
This one was inspired by a line I heard in a book by a male author: “Credit isn’t the point. Change is.”
My immediate reaction? Easy for a man to say.
That response came fast—and with a little more attitude than I’d like to admit. But it also told me something important. It wasn’t just about the quote. It was about history, experience, and patterns of behavior.
I couldn’t help but think of all the women who didn’t get credit for their accomplishments. All the women who wrote under a pen name because a female author would not be taken seriously. All the women who to this day are talked over and not taking credit and therefore not given credit.
Think about Rosalind Franklin, Lise Meitner, and Margaret Keane. Don’t know these names? Not surprised, but they made remarkable discoveries, and men took credit for them. Rosalind Franklin actually discovered the double helix.
We’ve made progress. But not enough.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: Part of the gap that still exists today isn’t just about whether others give us credit. It’s about whether we take it.
Why Credit Matters More Than We Admit
Credit isn’t about ego. It’s about visibility.
When people see your accomplishments:
You get more opportunities
Your influence grows
You’re trusted with bigger challenges
You accelerate your career trajectory
If people don’t know what you’ve done, they can’t factor you into what comes next. You may be doing incredible work—but if it’s invisible, so are you.
Why We Hesitate to Take Credit
Many high-performing professionals—especially women—hold back. Not because they lack confidence in their work, but because of how they want to be perceived.
You might recognize some of these internal narratives:
“I don’t want to seem self-promotional.”
“The work should speak for itself.”
“It was a team effort—I don’t want to take too much credit.” “
If I’m good, people will notice.”
Here’s the reality: The work rarely speaks for itself. People are busy. They’re focused on their own priorities. If you don’t connect the dots for them, they won’t always do it for you.
The Difference Between Taking Credit and Being Credible
Taking credit isn’t about bragging. It’s about being clear.
Credibility comes from how you frame your contributions:
Acknowledge the team and your role.
Share outcomes, not just effort.
Be specific about impact.
Instead of: “We worked on a project that improved client satisfaction…”
Try: “I led a cross-functional initiative that increased client satisfaction by 18% in three months.”
Same work. Different visibility.
Practical Ways to Take Credit (Without Feeling Awkward)
If “self-promotion” feels uncomfortable, reframe it. This isn’t about spotlight-seeking—it’s about clarity, contribution, and context. Here are ways to make your impact visible that tend to feel more authentic and easier to adopt:
- Anchor your contributions to outcomes. Instead of talking about yourself, talk about results. The team was able to move this forward quickly—I helped streamline the process so we could hit the deadline. It keeps the focus on impact, not ego.
- Use inclusive language that still names your role. You don’t have to choose between “I” and “we.” Use both. We launched the initiative last quarter, and I led the client strategy piece. You’re giving credit and taking it.
- Ask for visibility, not recognition. If asking for credit feels uncomfortable, ask to share updates instead. Would it be helpful if I presented what we’ve been working on at the next team meeting? You’re creating space for your work to be seen.
- Turn updates into storytelling moments. When giving a status update, add a context sentence. Here’s what we did, why it mattered, and what changed as a result. It subtly highlights your thinking and leadership.
- Leverage one-on-one conversations. If public recognition feels like too much, start smaller. Share wins with your manager or key stakeholders in regular check-ins so they can advocate for you when you’re not in the room.
- Let others open the door—then walk through it. When someone acknowledges your work, don’t deflect. Build on it. Thank you—I really enjoyed leading that piece, especially figuring out how to… You’re reinforcing the contribution without overdoing it.
- Document and share learnings. Write a quick recap, insight, or takeaway after a project. What we learned from this launch… This positions you as thoughtful and strategic—while making your role visible.
Amplification: The Role We All Play
There’s another piece to this—and it’s one we can all control. Amplification.
One of my favorite things to remind leaders of is:
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We can help ensure others get credit, too. That means acknowledging contributions in meetings, tagging colleagues when sharing successes, and repeating and reinforcing ideas that might otherwise be overlooked.
When we amplify others, we create a culture where credit is shared more equitably—and more openly.
I believe everyone should stand in and speak about their success. Whether that’s sharing it on social media, including it in your email signature, or simply speaking up in a meeting—you have every right to take credit.
You can celebrate others and still claim your own accomplishments. Those things are not in conflict.
So yes, while it may be easy to point to systemic issues—and they absolutely exist—we also have agency. Times have changed. And we need to change with them.
Don’t assume people will notice the good things you do. Highlight them. Share them.
Don’t ask for credit. Take it.