Hi there, Just wanted get your opinions on something. I'm currently told by my 2-ups in the company to help someone in my team with a project. That person keeps asking me questions and took all my ideas as his own. When he presented in front of senior people, he took all the credits. I spoke with my 2-ups and the responses are quite disappointed. My 2-up told me to continue 'helping' him. I feel that if I stop feeding ideas to that person, my 2-up will blame me for not 'helping' enough. If I am helping, all the work credits will go to someone else. I do know that my 2-up favors my colleague. What do you think I should do in this situation?
A Colleague Keeps Asking for Help but Takes Credits of All My Ideas
brissybargainers on 29/07/2021 - 07:08
Last edited 29/07/2021 - 07:10
Last edited 29/07/2021 - 07:10
Comments
This is the way
Thank you. Great tips.
This is the way
This is great. Thanks
If anything, this is going to piss off the manager even more and may not achieve the desired outcome.
How come?
I would assume the manager would think, "Why am I being cced in everything? I delegated the task but it seems like they can't do it themselves
@Tech5: Also OP's boss has a strong bias with the other guy to be setup for success… It could be a career limiting move.
@SF3: Agreed that overdoing it will make the situation worse. All OP has to do is the important ones which the other person could take ownership of. That’s why I said a few times.
Simple, tell him “happy to help you, make sure you give me credit when presenting in front on senior leadership team”.
In my job, I have always been straight to the point. No BS, I say things the way they are. It has always worked for me.
I don’t care about offending anyone and neither should you.
This guy is stealing the ideas and presenting them as their own, that is already a scum move, what makes you think telling him to give you credit will change anything at all.
Good call out. Will have no BS
Or you can feed your colleague BS, so he can make a fool of himself in front of senior people, then he'll say you told him. You can tell him in front of the senior mgt, the information is correct, but not to be use for that project. :)
so it's not worth even trying?
Help him. It's called teamwork.
These things are controversial. The person presenting good ideas usually gets on a fast track for promotion
I feel like this was covered in one of the Police Academy sequels.
Crappy response from both, your bosses and co-worker.
Not sure what field of work your in, so it's hard, but I agree with the direct approach.
(Unless it's politics, then the feed them bad ideas. "Oh gosh, how was I to know they don't want naked Friday's?!" )
Look your team bosses like that person and are promoting him.
Even if he gave you credit he is the one presenting
Ideas are easy
Execution is harder
Helping someone and giving someone ideas are 2 different things.
Helping someone to me is about training them to do the job properly, nothing to do with giving ideas.
What do they need help with? Only give them help on how to do that.Go along to the "Prezzo" for support and see firsthand how the presentation represents and acknowledges your input and contribution.
Bonus Tip:
Ask your 2-up to sit in on your working with the person in your team so that they can observe the contribution each party makes and the source of the ideas.Otherwise, they will be promoting a puppet that can speak well.
Let me guess, that idea stealing knob is coffee/smoko buddies with your 2-ups?
I'm going to go with colleague is a better 'cultural' fit (white)
Yeah, that too or that colleague is pretty good with their mouth (talking that is).
I'm going to go with colleague is a better 'cultural' fit (white)
Where I work you do better if you aren't WASP
Yeah look you dont have to be literally white but being 'westernised' tends to give you a major advantage over people who have spent most of their lives in non-western countries. Maybe I'm reading too much into the grammar here but couple quirks lead me to believe OP is of South Asian descent.
@Cheaplikethebird: Yeah, those that have lived here a long time/all their lives, know that 2-up is a coin toss game, illegal except on ANZAC Day.
@Cheaplikethebird: I've worked with people from all over the world in the past 40 years.
If you are confidant, speak well and can do a decent presentation AND apply for the jobs, you move forward. If you are shy (not introverted), quiet and your presentations make people want to stab themselves or you avoid presentations then you'll go forward somewhat slower.
I work with a brilliant engineer who should be on twice his current money but he mumbles, his presentations involve him reading ( off a powerpoint presentation saying the word "basically" every 5th word and he won't apply for better jobs unless you hound him to submit an application. Technically he is brilliant but his lack of social skills make him very hard to work with.
@brad1-8tsi: Plenty of these sorts in every conceivable industry. The technically less capable but know how to sell ice to the Askimo's sort will take advantage of these peeps to their full advantage. Even more so in shops where nepotism is rife.
@Cheaplikethebird: Do you mean, being a native speaker and being able to speak the language at a professional or academic level? Considering the job involves presentations, wouldn't this be categorised as "better qualified"?
@weezlebub: It's not just about being a better speaker, shared experiences and better understanding of social conventions in our culture helps you build stronger professional connections which are kind of important with project work where it helps to be able to pull in favours to push something across the line. It's unfair but it's a reality.
I picked this up from another manager, it seems to work for him as he's climbing the corporate ladder fairly well with this move. This only works when your helping someone at equal level or lower, if you do it to someone higher it will burn potential allies.
"Help" the person by provided an idea that has a fault or your second best idea - once the person starts presenting that idea to senior management, step in and point out the flaws and/or suggest a better solution. In 1 go, you make the other person look stupid and at the same time look good to senior management.
Are people really this shitty in the corporate world? Glad I'm not involved in this immature bullshit just to move up the ladder / get a pay rise etc.
Yep, it's a well documented phenomena.
https://www.utas.edu.au/news/2018/8/23/712-the-reality-of-co…
TIL that corporate psychopaths exist not just in Hollywood blockbusters. Guess I'm just naive having never worked in that environment.
The description fits perfectly for the manager in my example
It's not just the corporate world. As a contractor I've been amidst various teams of paraprofessionals, techs and tradies. The way some keep knowledge to themselves in the fear that someone else will find out and make them less valuable is nothing less than the way kids behave in the playground. "Don't let anyone know if you press TAB the cursor will automatically go to the next field" type of thing.
Absolutely they are. I've worked in corporate for 25 years and it's sickening how many of these people there are.
All of these people get burned in the end though, but often takes a while until they dig themselves a big enough hole.
It's a pain in the arse dealing with these people on an almost daily basis though.
Oh damn… My idea was just gonna be present a slightly shittier idea. But you worded it ten times better.
That person keeps asking me questions and took all my ideas as his own.
So what? You are both being paid by the same company. Any intellectual property created during employment is owned by the employer.
Yeah the other dude is being a twat. Put on your big boy pants.
Cause better performance = more pay. That does matter.
And promotions and if it comes down to it - if one has to go you know which one it would be…
Omg
1) Present ideas yourself. Cuz company doesn't value you if you're not there.
2) Ask for a raise. Cuz company doesn't value you enough.
3) Quit. Cuz company doesn't value you enough.
Isn't it your job to come up with ideas for your Superiors ?
And your getting paid for it ?
So just keep doing your job to keep getting your pay check !Its not about what you know its who you blow.
If you're blowing, isn't the other guy getting a head?
There's nothing wrong with that if they wanting to partake in a circlejerk sesh or worse, forming a human centipede that involves interconnecting via their penile appendage.
Comon, we're an accepting bunch aren't we?
Now you're raising some stiff questions.
If you want a start in Brown Nose politics it start at private secondary schools .
Then if done well enough you should have enough contacts to score a Fat Cat job , for example in this thread harnessing ideas for the Big Man .You don't even need to do that, just send one of your kids there and network well with other parents.
If you have all the great ideas that makes such a big difference, I guess it's time to give yourself a pat in your shoulder and look for a better position outside of your current job
If the only ideas you have ever had are being given to this coworker, this is a problem (in more ways than one).
If you routinely contribute ideas, and do so besides the ones you are sharing with this coworker, you will be recognised for them.Are you really that upset that a coworker used some of your ideas? Are your bosses so clueless that all they can judge your coworker's performance on are a few ideas you shared?
This seems really petty. I would look negatively on staff who are super protective of ideas and demanding of every scrap or recognition rather than getting on with the job.
This
Do you think that you may be training your replacement? Is it possible that even though you may be technically competent at you job, there is a corporate culture gap and the management would rather replace you with someone who in their eyes is a better fit?
Whiteant…
Not much more I can say.
First time I've heard of the term 2-up and it's not gambling related.
What's an example of an idea you give vs what's presented?
Eg if you give a high level abstract idea, and he presented a worked through detailed solution, that's fair enough he gets a decent amount of credit.
Help him/her as that is what your job is, if your managers are asking you to help him then you are obligated to assist (providing it is not contradicting any terms of your employment).
They could very well be testing you during this process just as much as the person you are helping, in a workplace we collaborate to achieve the best results for the company (or we should)…… yes he is a dick for not giving you credit, but this is your opportunity to be seen by management as well.
Most managers are not idiots and merely asking you to help may have been because they know he is not capable.
Such people are bloody suckers
No amount of evidence will help you prove anythingJust stop helping this blood sucker as they will be promoted at your expense
To be honest, it sounds like it is time to find a new job …
Advise him… wrongly…. see what happens
Give some really bad advice that you know his ineptitude will make it unlikely to notice. You sound smart enough for this. See if he takes credit for THAT! Yeah I know it’s nasty but if this person is a threat to your position you need to protect yourself. I have always been wary of hiring somebody who would be capable of taking my job and on the two times I didn’t, I have regretted it. Real life experience. So many people are out for themselves and don’t care who they take out on their way to where they want to be.
Take a vote among your colleagues. If you win 82:8, you should watch out…
Help him so he can get a promotion. Once he is your manager he will know you are the one in the team with all the good ideas and he will promote you when the opportunity comes up.
Have everything important in writing. If he asks for help, ask him to send you an email. Then “help” him as normal but also copy your manager chain in the response. Do this a few times and he’ll get the message.