When someone takes credit for your effort at work (or in life)

Most of us have experienced this at one point or another.

You do all the leg work for a certain assignment and your co-worker, out of the blue, comes in and takes in all the credit.

Or your share your vision with someone over lunch and then you hear them suggest it in a meeting as their idea.

Watching someone else taking all the glory for work that made you spend numerous sleepless nights to accomplish is the most infuriating feeling ever at the workplace.

So how do you handle such situations? You cannot expect that everyone will eventually figure it out on their own. Here is what experts advise you to do.

1.       Don’t lash out

Do not leap to anger. As much as you may want to lash out and put your coworker in his place, take a deep breath and relax. There is no need for making a public outburst or cause a confrontation mid-morning. You will obviously be outraged and your mind in overdrive of thoughts. Neurologically, your mind may not be at its best to tackle a confrontation professionally. You will be out-argued and look petulant to the rest of the team. In addition, it neutralizes any future efforts of taking about it amicably with your colleague.

2.       Sometimes take the loss…

Do not jump into conclusions that your colleague is trying to make you look bad. It may be the case but sometimes it could be just an oversight on their part. In some cases, bosses take credit for a job well done where their subordinates have done most of the work. Here, do not fuss much, sometimes, “making the boss shine is part of the gig”, says Brian Uzizi, a professor and contributing author with the Harvard Business Review. Here, your boss may get the spotlight but hopefully they get to recognise how crucial you are to the success of the team.

3.       Shift the burden of proof

If the lack of accreditation will negatively affect your career, take action by asking questions to the credit-stealer. Make them explain why they felt justified to take home the undue credit. This will give them an opportunity to recognise their mistake and let them know that you noticed it wasn’t right. This will also send clear boundaries and let your coworker know that they cannot walk all over you. Once they acknowledge their mistake, work on process to set the record straight. He or she can send an email to all the stakeholders thanking you for the part you played. Alternatively, you can both agree to meet your supervisor and put things into perspective.

4.       Demonstrate your involvement

A malicious co-worker will prove stubborn when you would like them to set things straight. This is where you must take action to remedy the situation. Seize every opportunity at your disposal to prove your knowledge whenever the idea is talked about. Do your homework and chime facts and numbers to back your contributing statements. This will not only stamp your involvement but it will also highlight who the responsible person was in the first place.

5.       Enlist other colleagues for support

Blowing your own trumpet may make you uncomfortable. Involve the help of other more supportive colleagues to cover you and underscore your involvement especially when you are on leave and may not be able to take any action at the appropriate time. During meeting, you can request your colleagues to ask you questions about the said idea use it to drive the point home. Alternatively, when you are discussing the idea via email, make sure you CC another teammate or Bcc your boss so that he can be in the know.

6.       If the problem persists, talk to your boss

Report to your boss when your colleague seems to have developed a habit of systematically undermining you. No matter how bad it was, do not go in there guns blazing. Your approach should be in a bid to foster a better working relationship and not to complain and whine. Your boss should get the idea that you want to be part of the solution, not the problem.

7.       Be smarter next time

Keep a few tricks up your sleeve. Do not over-share your ideas. Safeguard your plans and prevent such an incident from happening again. If need be, change your game. Dig deeper, do more research and position yourself at a point of more knowledge. With data in your hands, no one will need to ask whose idea it was in the first place. The information will speak for you. These are proactive steps to ensure that your colleague does not repeat the mistake.

8.       Give credit to others as well.

Give credit to others when it’s due. Others will reciprocate your professionalism.