There is nothing more frustrating than someone stealing your work, whether it be a colleague telling your boss about a brilliant idea you had or your manager presenting it in a meeting without mentioning you. It’s surprisingly common, too%E2%80%94in a survey of 1,000 workers, 47% complained that their bosses took the credit for their ideas Of course, it’s infuriating, but if ignored, this sense of injustice can cause anger, resentment, and even have a negative impact on one’s self-esteem. Here, we look into how to deal with a “work theft” and prevent it from happening again.
When the CEO hired someone else, Sarah, a manager in a healthcare company, lost her chance to advance to the position of director. The new director would frequently visit me for casual conversations in my office. No formal meetings were held where minutes could be taken, she claimed. After a few months of this, Sarah was speaking with the CEO when she realized it was her own idea: “You know, Chris has had a wonderful idea, which is xxx,” the CEO had said. “I was very upset,” she said. Chris had certain skills that made him qualified to be a director, but I couldn’t stand the fact that he had stolen my idea. ”.
When Mary’s employer, an architecture firm, requested a design for a softball league team logo, something similar transpired. “I began a design on my computer while the three people seated next to me, including a coworker I will refer to as Mr. X, watched. We laughed as I came up with and drew my idea. I sent something using the boss’s computer, from my computer, she said.
On the day that the designs were judged, Mary was working off-site. When she arrived at the office, she was informed that her “team” had won the contest. Mr. X had stepped forward and accepted the award on behalf of the TEAM when they had made the announcement, she said. “I was shocked, hurt, and incensed that he would claim credit for my work,” I asked him what happened. He claimed I wasn’t there, so he accepted it on behalf of “us” as a group. ”.
As behavior expert, executive coach, and author of Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work Melody Wilding noted, having to deal with someone taking credit for your work can be extremely upsetting and “feel like a slap in the face.” If nothing is done, this irrational emotion may develop into resentment and “even self-doubt, because you may wonder why you are overlooked and underappreciated,” according to Wilding.
Examples of effective responses to misattributed credit
Here are some illustrations of appropriate responses to situations in which someone claims credit for the work you’ve done:
Example 1
A pitch for a new marketing campaign is being created by four marketing experts. Jennifer suggests that they start marketing on a new social media platform because she thinks it will increase their revenue after gathering information about their customer base. The concept is adored by all team members, so they include it in their campaign. However, Mayra, Jennifer’s colleague, doesn’t give credit to Jennifer for the idea when she makes their pitch to their managers.
After the presentation, during lunch, a manager approaches Mayra and commends her on the clever idea. Jennifer is tempted to jump in and tell the manager that it was her idea, but she takes a deep breath and waits until she is calm before speaking. Mayra corrects the manager, saying that although it was a team effort, Jennifer’s idea was the original one. Mayra is able to give Jennifer the credit she merits because Jennifer maintains her composure and stays out of the way.
Example 2
Dillon is a Greenroof University engineering student who is presently enrolled in a class on automotive body design. To collaborate on their final project, he meets with a group. They’re developing a vehicle that can easily switch between operating on land and operating in the water. The body is being designed by two of them, the materials are being chosen by one, and the wheels that can be used on land and as propellers in the water are being developed by Dillon.
In reviewing their project slideshow before the presentation day, Dillon notices that while all of his classmates have written their names on the slides they handled, they have also written their names on Dillon’s slide and left out his. He calms himself for a moment, then assesses the circumstance. He can see that the names were automatically added to each slide after reviewing the presentation once more. He makes the necessary edits to his slide to add his name, avoiding escalating things with his classmates.
Example 3
Ellis frequently collaborates with their boss to develop concepts and produce board presentations. Ellis offers many good ideas, but their boss doesn’t give them credit. Ellis understands that sometimes managers don’t give credit to everyone on their team, but chooses not to accuse them of doing so on purpose. Ellis prepares additional notes and information to support their idea in the presentation rather than confronting their boss, and they contribute their justification during the meeting’s discussion.
After the meeting, the board appreciates their input and notes their readiness and useful information. By coming up with and implementing a different solution, Ellis can avoid conflict with their boss while still being praised by their board colleagues. Ellis gives credit to everyone they work with when developing ideas or producing presentations going forward because they are aware of how important it is to them.
How to respond when someone takes credit for your work
To respond politely when someone claims credit for the work you’ve done, follow these steps:
1. Maintain your composure
The first thing to do if someone claims credit for the work you put into a project or presentation is to give yourself some space to keep your cool. Finding out that you haven’t been given credit can be upsetting, but if you respond before you’ve cooled off and assessed the situation, it can be difficult to express your feelings. Maintaining your professional relationships and presenting your problems with grace can be achieved by giving yourself time to control your emotions and respond diplomatically.
2. Evaluate the circumstances
Try to view the situation objectively after you’ve had time to learn to control your emotions. Keep in mind that it could happen accidentally before concluding that someone has intentionally taken credit for your work. Think about times when you may have mistakenly taken credit for something you didn’t do.
You can also ask people if they recall you from the presentation or analyze every aspect of the circumstance. It’s crucial to take the situation into account because you might not be eligible for credit under normal circumstances. For instance, it may not be necessary for them to give you credit if you write a speech for someone or help your team leader with a presentation.
3. Focus on communication
If you find out that someone has improperly claimed credit for your work, communicate with them instead of leveling charges. Meet with them and inquire about the manner in which they received credit for the project or presentation. Understanding their perspective before offering suggestions or approaching a manager can be useful.
4. Suggest potential solutions
Once you’ve spoken with the person who didn’t properly credit you, you can make suggestions for possible fixes. Ask them to update the information and include your name if the project was very important to you and you want credit. Otherwise, you could tell them that you value credit for future projects. Consider bringing in a team lead or manager to the conversation if it isn’t leading to a solution if the conversation isn’t productive.
Tips for responding professionally and productively
Here are some advice on how to react when someone claims credit for your work in a respectful and effective manner:
Taking credit for others work in the workplace? HERE’S WHAT TO DO!
FAQ
How do you respond when someone gives you credit?
“Thank you, it makes my day to hear that. “Thank you for noticing, I put a lot of thought into this. “Thank you so much for taking the time to say that; it means a lot to me. I’m grateful to hear that you feel that way. Thank you.
When someone takes credit for someone else’s work?
Even when there is enough evidence, the employee falsely claims that they took credit for someone else’s work. You might want to think about taking disciplinary action if any of the aforementioned circumstances occur. You might need to think about dismissing the person if they continue to claim credit.
What is it called when someone steals your work?
When someone steals or misappropriates money or assets from a client, a business partner, or another person who had confidence in the embezzler to handle the asset, it is called embezzlement.
What do you say to someone who takes over your job?
Tell them what you are working on, update them on your progress, and, if necessary, solicit their assistance. This will help you establish relationships with your new coworkers in a big way. If they don’t respond right away, don’t let that discourage you or make you defensive. Keep your approach casual and breezy.
