Stealing ideas and credit at the workplace can be pretty demoralising. Vinodini Rao tells you how to deal with it.

The world of work is fiercely competitive. While you can rely on most of your colleagues to be team players, there will always be those who are ready to claim credit where it’s not due, and stab you in the back.

It could be an idea you have bounced off but in all probability, it could end up being executed by somebody else. For instance, you have a great idea on how to improve your company’s marketing strategies, then you see someone looking at you and you know that your idea will never fly. Well, it will fly high — but not with your wings. Similarly, it could be a project you have worked on but much to your misfortune, the credit for it goes to someone who doesn’t deserve it.

DEAL WITH IDEA SNATCHERS

“Taking someone else’s thoughts and ideas and claiming them as your own is indeed a very unethical method of functioning. For victims of workplace rip-offs, the best option is to discuss the issue calmly with your boss. However, before deciding to do that, you need to analyse the situation carefully,” advises occupational psychologist Priti Kumar.

Firstly, re-assess the situation.
What exactly was your idea? Who did you tell? Can you be sure it was stolen or is it something the other person could have come up with himself? Then you have to evaluate your position. How important is the idea? If it is a brainwave which could make a difference to your company, then it is worthwhile making a noise about, as fussing about something that may easily be forgotten in a few weeks, is not really advisable.

Ask yourself if it is really worth taking up.
Before proceeding, you must be aware that raising the issue may mark you out as a glory seeker among your colleagues, no matter how unfair that may sound.

Go back through your notes.
Find anything that could help prove that the idea was yours. Dated e-mails or letters and witnesses may prove valuable. If there are people who, for example, heard you tell the ‘thief’ your idea, speak with them.

Have a confidential word with the personnel officer.
Explain the situation and ask for advice. Write a detailed memo to your boss, explaining the nature of your complaint and the fact you are not being credited for the idea. Apologise for taking up his time, but stress that it is important to you and you would very much value a few minutes to explain the situation.

Also find out the other side of the story.
Before taking it up with your boss, also speak to the individual concerned to find out his side of the story. It may, after all, be a simple misunderstanding. Chances are your boss will broker a compromise.

HANDLE CREDIT STEALERS

There are times in nearly everyone’s career when hard work goes unacknowledged. What should you do if you find yourself in this situation? First, tread carefully. Your impulse may be to confront the person who took credit for your work or to vent your frustrations to a sympathetic co-worker. These instincts are natural, but they are best repressed until you’ve had a chance to cool down. Sharing your concerns when you’re angry can set off the office rumour mill and make a bad situation worse.
 
Consider these steps to help you get the credit you deserve, while keeping your professional reputation intact:

Don’t assume the worst.
Look at the event from all possible angles. Did someone actually take credit for your work, or was recognition misplaced due to a lack of communication?

Consider the context.
Take a look at the big picture. How significant is this particular episode in terms of your overall career goals? Will it cause you to be passed over for a promotion? Conversely, also think about whether making a major issue out of the incident will damage your working relationships. If it is of little significance, it is best to forget the whole thing.

Avoid cyber confrontations.
Resist the temptation to try to remedy the situation via e-mail or any other written communication with the boss. This approach can be viewed as passive and supposedly isn’t very effective. A personal conversation is the best route to resolving the matter. Be composed and professional while discussing the matter with your boss.

DOES YOUR BOSS TAKE CREDIT FOR YOUR WORK?

Mary, an accounting clerk, found a billing error that when corrected, generated a large sum of income for her company. Immediately, her supervisor marched into the president’s office and announced that he had found the error, thereby taking credit for improving the company’s financial performance for the month.

Very few things will destroy employee morale and stifle future innovation more than having a supervisor take credit for somebody else’s work.

Effective managers give due credit
One remembers what President Abdul Kalam once said about his role model, scientist Satish Dhawan: “When the rocket launch failed at its first attempt, I, as the director, was directly responsible for it. But Satish accepted the responsibility and the next time when it was successful, he passed on the glory to me. Whenever success comes my way, I remember Satish’s act.” Herein lies a message for all managers.

• When credit and compliments come your way, spread them around to the entire department. And if you think you’re solely responsible for that honoured achievement, think again. Effective managers understand that they never lose credit when they share the glory with their staff. When managers highlight the contributions of others, they increase their employees’ self-confidence and raise their spirits — which ultimately improves future performance. By sharing credit, managers demonstrate that they have effectively built a strong team, which is an excellent and worthy accomplishment.
• Similarly, when things go wrong, resist the urge to assign blame. It’s the system that usually fails, so fix the system, not the people.

Finally, you must decide whether you can resolve the situation, learn to live with the situation or look for a new job. Developing a negative attitude will only undermine your work performance and damage your credibility. And yes, remember to keep smiling through it all; achieving your ambitions is the best revenge.