‘I Didn’t Deserve That (Honor)’
Dennis Rodman
Not many people will communicate that they shouldn’t be recognized and appreciated in a special way. It might happen yet it is extremely rare. When someone is considered one of the better performers ever, at least at certain skills, then it can rightly be assumed that the overwhelming majority will happily accept and bask in all the praise and celebration being offered.
More individuals want and humbly value validation and some are, for a lack of better term, glory seekers. Sometimes though, surprises emerge.
“I didn’t deserve that,” said former NBA player — and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member — Dennis Rodman, after having his number retired (a significant honor) by the Detroit Pistons. “I wasn’t there long enough to get my number retired.
“I mean, it would be different if it was more like, OK great, I was a very major part of that organization. I was more like a piece of the puzzle. I was there for seven years. I actually didn’t become someone noticeable probably my third year, fourth year in that organization, and after that, it pretty much went downhill. I think I shouldn’t have got my number retired.”
Rodman is being modest. He was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991 and led the league in rebounds per game twice while playing for the Pistons and was a force in assisting Detroit win a pair of championships — back-to-back, no less.
He still chooses a collective mindset when it comes to the mountain top he and everyone around him in the organization climbed together.
It is a curious conversation as to why it is unusual for people to honestly say they were not as special as most observers and critics see them, to the point of expressing that they should not have been publicly complimented and rewarded in a unique, flattering manner, showing deep respect.
Stefanie Magness
“Successful individuals often downplay their achievements out of humility. It’s like when a superhero saves the day but insists it was a team effort,” says Stefanie Magness, founder and publicist at Elevate U PR, specializing in personal branding and media visibility strategies for entrepreneurs and experts. “They may feel their contributions were just part of the bigger picture and they hesitate to take all the credit.”
Many who achieve great heights are proud. It seems like it would be difficult, if not impossible for most, to see themselves as just a piece of the group accomplishment and downplay the excellence of their contribution.
“This mindset usually stems from a combination of humility and self-awareness,” Magness suggests. “Like a seasoned chef who knows the secret ingredient is teamwork, these individuals understand the value of collaboration and recognize that success is rarely achieved alone.”
It is common with this group of people to naturally do something else.
“They communicate their humility authentically, acknowledging the efforts of others along the way,” Magness says.
There is an available lesson for those who find it challenging to understand that some successful people would react in a way contrary to what is believed to be a more powerful impulse within human nature.
“For those who find themselves in a similar situation, it’s essential to embrace humility while still acknowledging their contributions,” Magness recommends, adding that, “Just as a conductor leads an orchestra without overshadowing the talent of the musicians, they can gracefully accept recognition while attributing success to the team’s collective efforts.”
Communication Intelligence magazine
April, 2024
