My Boss Steals All My Ideas!

by Adrian Savage

"My boss is always taking credit for my ideas. Sometimes he even presents them to others as his own, implying that I stole them from him.

"Earlier this week, he made a presentation to our department head - a presentation I had written - and never acknowledged my input once. I think it's time I had it out with him."

Hey, you must have some pretty good ideas, if your boss thinks they're worth passing off as his own!

Whatever happens, feel good about yourself for that. Your ability and value to the business is obviously high, so don't let this idiot undermine your confidence, or tempt you into doing or saying something that will allow him to make you look bad.

Staging a confrontation is an "all or nothing" solution. Chances are, you'll lose your temper and maybe your boss will too.

After all, it's a pretty serious allegation you're making. He might back off and apologize, but I wouldn't bet on it. It sounds more as if he's feeling threatened by your ability and inventiveness.

Passing off your ideas as his may be a way of trying to make sure he's seen as important by other people. Perhaps he's afraid that if he lets you be seen for the creative person you are, his own position will suffer. If you confront him and he doesn't back down, your only option will be to leave or wait to be fired.

Calm down before you talk!

If you feel you must talk to him directly, take a little while to calm down first (so you don't give him an excuse for dismissing you as insubordinate or hysterical).

Then explain that you're puzzled by the way he did the presentation. Say you hoped he would acknowledge what you'd done, and felt disappointed when he didn't. Play your feelings down and give him a way out without losing face.

If he's simply insensitive (rather than arrogant and deceitful), he'll probably apologize and at least try not to do it again. If he does, you can gently remind him of what you said - and keep doing so until he gets the message.

Denying him the opportunity

There's a third way that doesn't involve talking to him at all but denies him the opportunity to act this badly in the future.

Try to make sure you never talk about any of your ideas except in situations where you can clearly label them as yours. Don't share them with him beforehand. Don't talk about them with colleagues who may pass them on.

If you need to put them on paper, make sure your name is always alongside them. Apply that ingenuity of yours to finding ways of linking your ideas and your name together so firmly that nobody will be able to miss the true author.

If he's simply a poor manager who's insecure in his own ability, he'll never stop trying to pass other's ideas off as his. Better to acknowledge this and take steps to deny him the opportunity in future.

Besides, this way makes sure you get the credit you deserve. If he can't cope with that, he'll probably try to get you moved elsewhere and you'll be rid of him.

Unless, that is, you get promoted away first because of your creativity.

Adrian W. Savage writes for people who want help with the daily dilemmas they face at work. He has contributed more than 25 articles to leading British and American publications and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The Chicago Tribune.

Through his web site, http://www.thevirtualmentor.net, Adrian publishes "E-Mentor", a monthly e-zine for people interested in using ethical approaches to make their working lives happier and more effective.

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