Ever had a colleague take credit for your work? Almost 50% of workers experienced it at some point. Here is my personal story and how to protect👇 (2024)

Let me tell you a funny story. 15 years ago, I had a casual conversation with a colleague about the current situation in the company at the onset of the 2008 crisis. We were just chatting over coffee, and I shared some of my thoughts and ideas on how to deal with the challenges we were facing. Little did I know that he was listening very carefully and taking notes. Soon after that, he got promoted to a management position. Fast forward 10 years, and I bumped into him at a conference. He was very friendly and chatty, and then he started to brag about how he got the promotion - by stealing my idea from our conversation. He had completely forgotten that it was my idea, and he was so proud of himself. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so I just smiled and nodded.

Now, you might think that this was a rare and isolated incident, but unfortunately, it’s not. According to a survey by OfficeTeam, 44% of workers have had their ideas stolen by a coworker at some point in their careers. That’s almost half of us! How crazy is that? This can be frustrating, demoralizing, and damaging to your reputation and career prospects. So how do you handle this situation without losing your cool or burning bridges? Here are three actions you can take to protect your work and get the recognition you deserve.

·Speak up for yourself.Don’t let the credit stealer get away with their behavior. As soon as you notice that someone has taken credit for your work or ideas, address the issue directly and respectfully. For example, you could say, “I’m glad you liked my idea for the new product launch. I spent a lot of time researching and developing it. Can you please acknowledge my contribution in the next meeting?” If they don’t respond or apologize, you can escalate the matter to your manager or HR.

·Keep a record of your work.One of the best ways to prevent someone from taking credit for your work is to document everything you do and share it with the relevant people. Keep track of your emails, notes, drafts, feedback, and deliverables. Make sure your manager and team members are aware of your progress and achievements. For example, you can send regular updates on your projects via email, cc’ing your manager and other stakeholders. This way, you can easily prove your ownership and value if someone tries to claim them as their own.

·Build healthy professional relationships.Sometimes, credit stealing is a result of poor communication, misunderstanding, or insecurity. To avoid these issues, try to foster positive and trusting relationships with your coworkers. Give credit where credit is due, acknowledge other people’s contributions, and collaborate effectively. By doing so, you can create a culture of mutual respect and recognition in your workplace.

Dealing with a coworker who takes credit for your work or ideas can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to ruin your career or reputation. By following this steps you can protect your work and get the recognition you deserve.

How do you handle credit stealing in your workplace? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. And, if you found this useful, please share it with your network and follow me for more content like this.