Teammate Keeps Taking Credit for Your Ideas?
Dear Yogesh, One of my teammates keeps on taking credit for every good thing that happens in the team. It becomes annoying and frustrating for me and others as well. Let me know how I can handle this situation. Mohit Dear Mohit, First off, I’ll admit my initial reaction was to think of your “friend” as someone who’s deliberately stepping on your toes, and my advice would be to protect yourself immediately. But then, I took a step back and followed my usual approach: using some tried-and-true principles that can help navigate situations like this. Give people the benefit of the doubt—until there’s clear evidence that they don’t deserve it. Trust your instincts, especially if you’ve seen a pattern in your interactions with this colleague. If you have strong reasons to believe you’re right, trust your gut. That said, don’t let paranoia take over. All that said, it seems your "friend" might be guilty of taking credit for your ideas, which is frustrating and disappointing. And while it’s sad that the trust in your professional relationship is being undermined, it’s smart to protect yourself. Now, let’s talk about how to handle this without sounding like you're being petty or throwing shade. Build allies within your team: If someone else has noticed your colleague's behavior, it won’t take long for others to pick up on it too. There’s a chance someone else will bring it up without you having to say a word, which could shift the focus toward what’s actually happening. Don’t overthink it: Speculating about your colleague’s motives won’t help you, so don’t spend too much time wondering “why” this is happening. Focus on the facts and your next steps. Keep work conversations separate from your friendship: If you're still spending one-on-one time with her, avoid talking about work. You don’t want to feed her ideas or give her the chance to claim them as her own. Address it with your boss (if you trust them): This might be tricky, as you don’t want to appear as if you're a credit hog. But it’s reasonable to express to your boss that you value the team’s collaborative spirit but want to ensure credit for ideas is given where it’s due. You could mention that while you understand ideas evolve in a team setting, you think it's important for them to know the origins of specific suggestions. Document your ideas: This may seem self-interested at first, but it’s a smart strategy. In high-pressure environments, keeping track of your contributions and ideas ensures you're visible. Ask your boss for feedback on how you present your ideas—it could help clarify whether you’re presenting them in a way that lets others take the spotlight. One of my trusted advisors—who’s been in your shoes—suggested documenting everything you bring to the table. Not only does this safeguard you now, but it’ll also be invaluable for your career progression in the future. If you start keeping track of your contributions, you'll have a concrete record when it’s time for performance reviews. This proactive approach can also help you refine your presentation and ensure that you don’t get overlooked. You don’t have to become a master manipulator, but you can’t afford to be naive either. If you stay the course and later end up in a leadership role, you’ll have the insight and wisdom to spot who’s genuinely contributing, and you'll be able to share credit freely. In the meantime, stand firm, stay strong, and don’t let anyone take what isn’t theirs. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this tricky situation, Best regards, YogeshHere are some practical steps: