Managers love to extol the virtues of a team mentality. I can’t count how many schlocky motivational posters I’ve seen emblazoned on middle management walls (or fabric-covered cubicle dividers, as the case may be) over the years, all claiming that teamwork is pretty much the solution to everything.
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And sure, I’m all about striving for the greater good of the group—but at the end of the day, team performance is rarely a factor during those year-end reviews with your boss. Which is exactly why we all work so hard to distinguish ourselves from the rest of the pack. Let’s be honest—it’s those special projects, great presentations, well-written articles, and everything in between that make us valuable members of the team (not to mention help us get to the next level).
Of course, this assumes you’re actually getting the credit for your efforts—which, sadly, you can never assume. Whether intentional or an honest mistake, colleagues and bosses routinely take credit where it is most certainly not due, and your contributions can go unnoticed by those who matter.
To really succeed at the office, you not only need to do the work, you need to make sure your name is included in the credits. Here’s how.
In my first role as a manager, I was cautious about sharing my ideas with the group—not because I didn’t have them, but because I wanted to make sure they were “good” before speaking up. So, naturally, I turned to more senior members of my team or my boss and bounced ideas off of them, first.
Soon after, these same mentors and bosses shared these ideas in team meetings. Initially, I was thrilled—my ideas must be solid! But that elation lasted for only a few moments before I quickly realized that my proposal wasn’t being shared—it was being hijacked. What’s more, even if I had spoken up, no one would ever believe the idea was mine after a more senior member of the team had mentioned it first.
Instead of being overcome with disappointment and frustration (although trust me, I was filled with both), I turned the experience into a hard-learned lesson. The next time I had a great idea brewing, I thought through it, planned it out as if I already had buy-in from the group, and piped up to present it at the next team meeting.
Since I first shared it in a public forum, everyone was aware that the idea was mine. And, because I had put extra effort into plotting out how to implement it, my boss and colleagues were more than happy to give me credit when we eventually presented it to a larger group.
Though it might be intimidating, announcing your plans to a wider audience naturally helps prevent others from being tempted to “borrow” or “be inspired by” your ideas.
Having your work stolen is one of the most frustrating experiences in any job. You put in hours of hard work – researching analyzing writing, creating – only to have a coworker present it as their own and collect all the praise and rewards.
It’s enough to make anyone’s blood boil. But flying off the handle or plotting revenge won’t solve anything. To deal with work thieves professionally and protect yourself in the future follow these tips.
Keep Your Cool
When you first realize someone is taking credit for your work, you’ll likely feel angry, hurt, and anxious. Don’t react right away. Take a few deep breaths and give yourself time to calm down before doing anything.
Responding when you’re very emotional rarely goes well. You may accuse or attack the other person and create more bad feelings. Or you may break down from the stress, which gives your credit thief more ammunition against you.
Buy yourself time by saying you need to gather your information and will follow up soon. Use the time to collect your thoughts and plan the best response.
Evaluate the Situation
There may be logical reasons the other person is attaching their name to your work. Think over the circumstances before accusing anyone of deliberate theft.
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Was it a genuine mistake? Maybe they honestly thought it was their project or forgot where the ideas came from. Clarify the origins politely without blame.
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Did they expand on your work? Your coworker might have built on your core ideas or finished a draft you didn’t complete. Acknowledge the team effort.
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Were they the public face? As a leader or client liaison, they may have presented the work. But they should still credit you privately.
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Is there a credit hog in the office? Some people try to look good by putting their name on everything, even if they didn’t do the work.
Once you identify any intent and patterns, you can shape an appropriate response.
Communicate Your Concerns
Schedule a conversation in private to explain why you feel hurt and ask for an explanation. Avoid accusatory language that will make them defensive.
Describe how you contributed and ask for acknowledgment and future credit. Offer to collaborate and split public credit if they expanded on your work.
If it seems to be a genuine mistake, gently point it out and ask that they correct it. If it’s a repeat offender, take a firmer stance and say you won’t continue letting them take credit.
Focus on finding a resolution, not just venting your anger. You’ll gain more credence and cooperation by staying calm and professional.
Gather Evidence
To prove your case and jog someone’s memory, assemble any evidence of your work:
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Emails or messages showing you originated the ideas
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Drafts with time/date stamps
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Notes or research related to the project
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Witnesses who can confirm your involvement
Having hard proof makes it much tougher for anyone to deny your role or gaslight you into thinking you’re mistaken. It also carries more weight if you need to escalate the issue.
Set Boundaries
If a colleague continues plagiarizing your work after you’ve addressed it with them, it’s time to set firm boundaries.
Be clear that you will call out and report any future instances of stolen credit. Follow through consistently to show you mean business. Say something like:
“This is the second time you’ve presented my work as your own. I’ve asked you to stop, but you don’t seem to take my concerns seriously. Going forward, I won’t let it go unaddressed if you claim credit for my projects.”
Change How You Work
Protect yourself from thieves by altering how you work and share information:
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Keep things offline. Avoid sending work over email or sharing files online where they can be copied. Instead, discuss projects verbally or print physical handouts.
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Watermark documents. Use a digital watermark naming you as the author on any materials you distribute.
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Get signoff. Have leaders or collaborators okay your work via email so there are records of your role.
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Ask for credit. When giving coworkers a draft or idea, clarify that you want authorship noted.
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Save everything. Create a paper trail by regularly backing up emails, files, and other proof of your contributions.
Escalate It
If you’ve directly confronted the issue but your colleague continues taking your work, it’s time to get others involved. Possible options include:
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Your manager. Explain the recurring problem and ask them to intervene and establish rules around crediting work.
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HR. Workplace plagiarism may violate company ethics policies. HR can reprimand offenders and protect you from retaliation.
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The plagiarized party. If your coworker is stealing credit for client work, consider discreetly informing the affected client of the truth.
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Upper management. For repeat or high-level offenders, you may need to loop in their superiors to apply more pressure.
Pursuing formal consequences is a last resort. But don’t let fear hold you back if informal attempts fail.
Evaluate Your Options
In rare cases, serial credit theft may be a relationship dealbreaker requiring you to walk away. Before making that decision, reflect carefully:
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Is the problem confined to one person or pervasive in the culture? If it’s isolated, you may be able to avoid working with the thief. Widespread issues may require a job change.
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What’s your boss’s stance? Do they support you and want to retain you? Or are they enabling the behavior? Lack of support may indicate it’s time to look elsewhere.
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How does the situation affect you? Stolen credit can tank your career growth, but don’t stay in a bad spot just for comfort. Balance risks of leaving vs. risks of staying.
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Can you protect your reputation? Make your contributions known and get recommendations from colleagues before departing a role.
This reflection will help you decide if you should persist in your current job or start fresh somewhere new.
Learn From It
Being plagiarized hurts, but you can grow from the pain. Let the experience teach you what to watch for and how to better safeguard yourself in the future.
You may gain insight into office politics and learn how to navigate tricky dynamics. Become savvier about covering your back and ensuring proper crediting.
Most importantly, remember your worth isn’t defined by others’ behavior. Keep doing great work and pursuing your passions. Dishonest coworkers can’t steal your purpose or talents.
Having your work stolen stings, but it says more about the culprit than you. Stay professional, stand up for yourself, and keep moving forward. With the right mindset and strategies, you’ll get through this challenging situation.
Keep a Few Tricks Up Your Sleeve
Sometimes, sharing your genius plans in a public forum isn’t always possible, so you’ll have to find other ways to brand your ideas as your own.
For example, when I was working on a very small team that rarely had meetings, it was nearly impossible for me to get my ideas in front of decision-makers until well after I had worked through them with my boss. On more than a few occasions, after spending weeks managing a project myself and crafting a winning presentation, I was rewarded with the opportunity to watch my boss lead the meeting where it was presented, never once mentioning who had done all the work.
Finally, I decided to change my game. For every project going forward, I proceeded just as I had before, but I also did a bit of extra research. When the presentation rolled around, I had anecdotes and additional data that wasn’t included in my boss’ speech—and I offered them up during the meeting. By being over-prepared and anticipating additional questions, I came across as an expert on the topic, without making my boss look bad.
What’s more—after I started doing this, we ended up presenting more as a team. Although it was never explicitly noted that I was behind the ideas, more and more credit began to shared equally between us.
How to deal with someone taking credit for your work | Life Skills
What should I do if someone takes credit for my work?
If someone takes credit for the work that you’ve done on a project or presentation, the first thing to do is allow yourself time to maintain your composure. It can be upsetting to learn that you haven’t received credit, but if you respond before you’ve calmed down and evaluated the situation, it can be challenging to articulate your feelings.
How do you respond when someone takes credit for your work?
These are some helpful tips for responding professionally and productively when someone takes credit for your work: Focus on giving others the proper credit. If you know that proper credit is important to you, you can influence it in your work environment by ensuring everyone receives proper credit for projects you work on together.
How do I get my co-workers to give me credit?
Be generous about sharing credit yourself. Much like great CEOs model leadership behavior, your co-workers are more likely to give a nod to your great ideas if you’re generous about sharing credit yourself. If you manage a team, play the role of a coach. Encourage your team to think of opportunities for getting their work is recognized.
How do you respond if you haven’t received credit?
It can be upsetting to learn that you haven’t received credit, but if you respond before you’ve calmed down and evaluated the situation, it can be challenging to articulate your feelings. Allowing yourself time to manage your emotions and respond tactfully can help you maintain your professional relationships and present your issues with grace.
