What to do when someone takes credit for your work
Sometimes, people are put in a situation where their idea might be so good that they won’t be given any credit for them. Not because they’re being shunned, but because their idea and the credit that follows that idea is taken by someone else.
Sometimes, it’s a manager who takes credit for their employee’s idea—thinking that it’s okay because they’re in the same team anyway. Sometimes, it might be a colleague, part of the same team, who takes credit for your work without once mentioning you.
This situation is terrible and quite frustrating. And for people who have been here, being put in this situation sometimes takes you off guard. You won’t know how to respond when your idea is being stolen from you. If it’s a manager, you won’t even know how to confront them for it because they are your superior and you’re quite frankly, intimidated by them. Sometimes, this may even be unintentional, but you end up feeling bad nonetheless.
So, how do you react when someone takes credit for your work?
#1. Be vocal
We are always conscious about sharing our ideas in a group. This is because of the fear that they might be mediocre or not good. But, sometimes, we find it relatively easier to speak to our superiors about our ideas, wondering if they might correct you or give you more insights.
But turns out, your superiors began using and incorporating your ideas in meetings and you’re left hanging in midair. Initially, strange happiness might hit you because your boss has most definitely listened to you and used your idea. However, this won’t last long. Your ideas are being hijacked, whether intentionally or not.
What you can do is keep silent until the meeting actually happens, and speak up during the meeting. Don’t be afraid if you think your idea is bad or good. Share what you have in mind and wait for the response. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. We don’t always have to do it for the credit, but it’s always best when compared to your ideas being stolen. This can be scary. But, once you’re out of this area of discomfort, it’ll be easier for you to voice your ideas out loud.
#2. Be tricky
Sometimes, people aren’t comfortable sharing their ideas in public, like in meetings. They are asked to lead projects and make a final presentation about the project and about what has been accomplished in the entire duration. However, in the last minute, your award-winning presentation is not presented by you—but, your boss will do it!
There goes your hard work and preparation. Instead, put only the rough points in such presentations, with details that are obvious. Keep a few facts and ideas to yourself and jot them down in a notebook, which is with you. And during the presentation, you can share these intricate ideas and additional data with the group. And you can invariably seem like an expert in the given scenario.
Eventually, all the presentations later will turn out to be more of a group thing rather than your boss handling them. This gives everyone more room to be more vocal about their ideas. There will be no fear of hijacking credit.
#3. Don’t hold on for too long
This is perhaps the hardest part of life. You can’t hold on to something that you invariably cannot change. Especially when what you want to change has already occurred and is stuck in the past. Credit is somethßing that cannot be given to you always—and this fact is hard to digest.
When you start expecting credit from others for everything you do, you will definitely be disappointed. Sometimes, growth is seen in areas where the idea is respected more than the person who gave it. It is seen and recognized for the greater good. We all must remember that the ideas we present are for the company we are working in, and is for the benefit of the company. For some things, it’s alright to not receive credit. Take what comes, and keep moving on, with your head held high.
It can be hard to not be given credit for an idea or information that you presented, but that’s part of life at a workplace. Be bold and mature about this scenario, and tell yourself that it’s you who helped make a difference. As long as you are proud of yourself, getting credit with invariably become secondary to your growth not only at the workplace, but as a person too.