How to Deal With a Nasty Co-worker Who Takes Credit for Everything
We all know that getting recognition for a job well done is important. Sometimes, this recognition just doesn’t happen. The case is this: you’ve done all the hard work for a certain project at work, only to be left unrecognized by your company’s top management. Unfortunately, a co-worker has been credited as being the brains behind this project, even though you know that you played a significant role in the project’s success. How do you handle this then, if you have a colleague who constantly steals recognition? It calls for a plan and a great deal of tact, which includes finesse.
Read these tips and hints on dealing with this kind of co-worker
The first question to answer is this: what kind of a person steals credit from people? It is one thing to deal with an officemate of the same rank, and it is another to deal with a boss who steals all the credits. This piece focuses on the first, but if your problem is actually the second, just consider this: do you really want to spend the rest of your life working for such a myopic, selfish individual? A true boss worth the admiration of his or her subordinates is capable of passing along credits.
Tip #1: Have a solid hold on the flow of info. Make sure that you give your boss constant updates, and make him or her aware of how you are contributing to team endeavors. As often as possible, check reports finalized by others, and add your name if it has been neglected.
Tip #2: Steer clear of this kind of co-worker. Of course, there would be times when you and this particular credit-stealer would have to produce a joint report/work. More often than not, however, keep away from him or her as much as you could. Deny this colleague access to work products, because you could be sure that he or she would do the same. This kind of co-worker can be manipulative and “Machiavellian,” so the scenario calls for Machiavellian measures.
Tip #3: Always make a tactful correction or input during meetings. Let us say you are in a meeting, and this person fails to mention your name even if all of you have contributed. Get into the action, say something like, “James is OK here, I did my own consultations, and I arrived at the same analysis.”
Tip #4: Be direct. If you are in a team where there are 2 or more credit-stealers, then it would be pragmatic to request for a justified share of recognition. Be tactful. Always keep in mind that getting angry would not solve a thing, and it would just probably even amuse the nasty officemates if you let your emotions rule.
While having a co-worker who keeps on stealing the credits is a negative development, it should not prevent you from delivering quality work and getting due recognition. There are a lot of countermeasures: controlling info flow, minimizing sharing of ideas with him or her, and being assertive in meetings where the boss is present.
Photo Credit : Migraine Chick
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