So you're at a meeting, dressed in your finest, you’re not only debonair, but you are more enthusiastic today than you’ve been in a long time. After all, you’re going to pitch the chief on an idea you’ve researched over for months. Talk about increasing profit share – the idea you’ve been holding on so firmly in your cranial lock box is certain to send shareholders to the bank. Your best workmate champions your idea and after doubtlessly being commended for being a creative visionary, you get to pass up the cubical next to the front office and head straight to your new mahogany desk, and into the corner office overlooking the lake. 
Motivated beyond conviction, you arrive at the meeting, take your seat, and wait for your turn to announce your proposal. At the end of the speech given by the speaker you’re about to follow, your best (office) mate reverentially barges in and like a ravenous person rushing to a first warm supper in months, hurries to introduce…your idea. Yep, your office mate has ‘beaten you to the deal!’ Seething with anger, your chin drops, and you feel so irritated you want to hiss flames.
Motivated beyond conviction, you arrive at the meeting, take your seat, and wait for your turn to announce your proposal. At the end of the speech given by the speaker you’re about to follow, your best (office) mate reverentially barges in and like a ravenous person rushing to a first warm supper in months, hurries to introduce…your idea. Yep, your office mate has ‘beaten you to the deal!’ Seething with anger, your chin drops, and you feel so irritated you want to hiss flames. In truth, this scenario occurs in the workplace more frequently than you might be conscious of. Experts envisage, in some cases, coworkers are so indolent and so unsure of themselves that before coming up with their own ideas, they resolve to steal the ideas of others. On September, 09, 2009, MSN ran an interesting article written by Rachel Zupek. The article titled 'When a Co-Worker Steals an Idea,' speaks of the commonality of this problem. Zupek says, “Co-workers stealing ideas in the workplace is more common than you think.”
Although the author does not present a sure fire rationality for why this occurs. When arriving at a conclusion on what spurs this type of underhanded behavior in the workplace, Zupek appears to agree with leadership development and communications consultant Charmaine McClarie. Zupek says that McClarie believes, “Colleagues take credit from others because they think they probably can get away with it.” Zupek agrees, “If one feels powerless to affect positive and necessary change, then stealing what one can't create oneself begins to look like a plausible solution.”
Has this scenario or one very similar happened to you or anyone you know? Whether it has or hasn’t, if you came across a similar scenario, how will you reciprocate? What are your introspections on stealing ideas? Is it a good idea to tell anyone about your thoughts? After-all, according to Zupek, McClaire says, "Part of planning a project should be planning who needs to know about your ideas and how they should learn about it." Zupek continues by concluding, "When a group of people know and support your ideas, no one else can come in and take credit for them." What say you? Speak to me!
6 comments:
On the last occasion someone tried to poach my idea in a meeting, in front of everyone, I called them out on it & embarrassed them beyond belief. I had proof I had come up with the idea first & she had nothing but excuses that didn't hold up. They haven't tried it again.
The same person has taken credit for other's work regularly & although the rest of the staff know this person has made it a habit, no-one seems to have told the manager. These office thunder-stealers clearly get away with it way too often, but eventually they trip over their own bad reputations...
...either that or they become management ;)
I had my supervisor do the same thing to me. I told her of an idea I had for the company to save money. She went behind my back and took my idea to management. She was given a bonus. I only found out when I sent an email to the Director and the director responded by thanking me but informing me, in the most professional way possible, that they were already implementing plans to put the idea in progress. I was so pissed. I couldn't provide proof that the idea was mine and not my supervisor's so I basically didn't do anything. I ended up leaving the company because of that. I really do like your articles. They are always so well put together. You do have an excellent command of the English Language.
Oh Man, would I be po'd.
Shay, again you bring forth a subject tht many are passionate about. People want credit for their ideas, especially, when they are used. It is so easy for people, to take other ideas and present those ideas as their own.
I would suspect that sometimes it is just s lack of awareness of effective communication and other just that person inability to generate a viable idea.
My sister had the same thing happened to her a few weeks ago. Even though the economy is bad, my sister threatened to leave her job. The managers didn't even believe it was her idea. She is still working there but she is looking for a job.
Just reading this wonderfully put together story makes me angry. This hasn't happened to me but if it does I believe I would do the same thing one of your readers did - question them and put them on blast in front of everyone. The people will soon see, soon enough, who the thief is. I wouldn't leave. Leaving is not the answer.
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