Oscar Wilde said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” But is that true at work, when someone takes credit for work you did?
In business, imitation, copying and maybe even downright theft of another person’s idea or vision happens. It can happen by accident, as in, “I don’t remember where I heard this, but here’s an idea …” or intentionally, when someone hears your view and relates it to others as if it was their own.
I remember working for a boss once who was great at taking credit for my successes and contributions, calling all the wins “team wins” that resulted from his leadership. Unfortunately, he didn’t hold himself to the same accountability when the failures occurred. Those were all mine.
While your work in the military was not about seeking credit or recognition, giving away too much of your contribution in the civilian sector can result in you losing out on opportunities to advance that you might have earned. While it’s important not to hoard credit, relinquishing too much credit for your hard work can prove problematic for your career.
Let’s look at a couple of examples and how you might handle them:
1. You share an idea to streamline operations in a one-on-one meeting with your boss. The next time your team gathers, your boss proudly offers the idea up as their own.
Avoid: Resist the urge to stand up and scream, “That was my idea!” It is possible your boss forgot where the idea came from or has another reason for claiming it as their own.
Instead: Listen to the entire message. Is your boss sharing that they had this idea, ran it by senior leadership and it was determined not to be viable? Are they saying that the idea requires development by a team to investigate it further? Make sure you understand the entire message before responding.
You could then offer, “Great idea! When you and I discussed this last week, I also brought up that examining operations could uncover additional areas of cost-cutting. …” Or something that adds value to the idea and claims the notion as your own.
The goal here is to not publicly humiliate your boss if they did forget where the idea stemmed from. Gently and politely reminding them it came from you can either be done in the meeting or afterward in private. By adding to the original idea, you’re building it into something better, not only claiming ownership.
2. You’ve worked long hours to complete a deadline that was supposed to be a team project. Your colleagues did not put in as much effort or time as you did, and when the project is declared a success, everyone receives equal recognition and reward.
Avoid: How frustrating! The natural reaction would be to shout from the rooftops that you did most of the work and your colleagues were lazy! But here’s why that won’t serve you: Most likely, they know they didn’t work as hard as you did. They may feel guilty, embarrassed or even insecure as the recognition is handed out equally while the work invested was not.
Even if they don’t see that they didn’t carry their full weight of the work, it will be nearly impossible to point this out to them now, when the glory is being shone in their direction and their memory of how much work they did is getting fuzzy.
Instead: Acknowledge the collaboration and effort by all. Thank them for their participation in the success of the project and let them know you look forward to future opportunities to partner. If ever given another chance to work with them again, you’ll know to set clearer boundaries and divisions of labor to avoid this issue from happening, and you can bring it up later.
If managers on your teams know that you did most of the work, and they see you relinquishing the majority of the praise, this shows leadership qualities that will appeal to them.
You never want to feel (or be seen) as a doormat, for others to walk on. That said, being too protective over the credit you receive can be seen as petty and may not demonstrate the leadership qualities your employer seeks. Pick and choose the right time and place to assert your position if you feel your contribution is being overlooked.
Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs?
Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox.
