There are two main types:
Kiss-A** Coworkers: The Dodgy Cunning Player
Takes Credits of your work: More Catastrophic Than You Think
A**-kissers. Artful Dodger. Stealing One’s Thunder. Whatever you call them, they’re probably some of the most irritating and potentially catastrophic people in the company. Yes, lazy co-workers are bothersome, they say they would never do anything to hurt you, lest they be caught slacking off and promptly forced to do some actual work. Even complainers and gossips are pretty much all talk — so really, there’s hardly anyone in your office that can do as much damage as the kiss-up and self-righteous. Not only are they detrimental to team morale, but in reality? They might be out to suffocate you and leave you dry.
Because the basis of competition in many cases is not entirely related to merit or results, but perception and reputation. Workplaces try to inculcate a pretty simple set of rules to follow and people by and large believe society runs based on them. This is not true in all cases, and especially in larger companies where it’s hard to tell exactly what everyone is doing, it’s much easier to take credit for something you did not do or not get credit for something you did actually do. Psychology is complicated. Most people aren’t very happy with their jobs, so the degree to which they feel bad may vary. However, people can easily rationalise almost anything they do and they might not even see the person they’re taking credit from as a big priority or a concern at all.
Butt-Kissers Aren’t as Nice as They Seem
How can someone who spends all their time trying to get ahead by stoking the boss’s ego hurt you? Even those on the receiving end of the fawning and flattery have to be irritated by it, right? That may well be true, but you have to consider the butt-kisser’s motives to understand the danger. First, they’re trying to climb the corporate ladder by polishing boots, rather than polishing up whatever it is they’re supposed to be working on. They’re spending all day being the perfect lackey instead of focusing on their work. Second, they’re usually also perfectly willing to move up by climbing atop the bodies of their co-workers. Backstabbing is the most-used device from your local brown-noser’s toolkit, and they take zero issue with putting you down to make themselves look better. They are much more likely to tattle on you for mistakes than help you correct slip-ups before they get out. No matter who you are, the butt-kisser is not your friend. They are not (usually) kissing up due to an inferiority complex or to make other people feel good about themselves; they’re doing it to advance at all costs. And that means snubbing out the competition — including you.
How to Spot an Artful Dodger
The office backscratcher can wear some devious disguises. They’ll always pretend to have your back; they’ll sit back and listen to all of your complaints about your boss and your company, and be the first person to voluntarily accompany you on a much-needed coffee-and-rant break. The appearance of a sympathetic cohort is always there — that is, until they take everything you say out of context and narc you out to the boss to make you look bad. Walk away and never look back. These sneaky buggers may also be hiding out behind the facade of your good ol’ yes man/woman. They never have any original ideas, and will always champion what they higher-ups have planned. Worse yet, they’re willing to pump up your best ideas — so long as they have enough time to go behind your back and take credit for them. Rest assured that any success this teacher’s pet finds will not be shared with you. Once you discover them, don’t fall victim to their self-serving traps.
How to Shut Down a Colleague Who Takes Credit for Your Work
You’re in a meeting and the unthinkable happens: a colleague claims credit for your work. As you reel from the shock of what just occurred, your self-talk goes into overdrive. “How dare they. The audacity!” you say to yourself as you start to play out the consequences in your mind. “What does the rest of the team suppose my role was? Making the coffee?”. Well they’d better think again. Also block it from happening again. There’s really only one sure-fire method of preventing this from happening, and it is to pre-emptively, publicly and privately, claim credit for everything you do. To be completely realistic, though it’s understandable that are many very reasonable reasons why you may not be entirely comfortable doing this. Publicly claiming credit for the work you do, also known as “tooting your own horn” is not comfortable for most people. Why? Because there are those who brags over-the-top about their achievements.
Give the True Version of Events
You’re in a meeting and a colleague claims credit for your work, again. Whatever you do, don’t let the moment pass. It is important to speak up immediately, even if this means interrupting or speaking over the top of someone. To clear up any misunderstanding, what this person is trying to do is try to undermine your achievement and importance in the event, or try and put you down to blow their own blank trumpet. State clearly that it was you who came up with the design and idea, and devised the methodology as well as performed the analysis. As short and sweet as possible. Do you have to save his face? If it was a repeat thunder-stealing moment after you’ve had a real conversation telling them your objection but they did not respect your own view and ambition, you do not have to. They may or may not try to assure you that Management wants them to stand out and be seen as the star of the company. Don’t believe it. If that was true, how come they are not the ones who are naturally equipped with the desired necessary “talents”? When there is no remorse shown of their actions, be ruthless and make it clearly that it is yours and you are the entitled member of the team for the credit. Don’t be tempted to waste any efforts for the self-righteous. Not only that you are doing the right thing for the company’s ultimate short, medium and long-term goals, but also teaching these toxic workmates to be independent and not relying too much on other’s efforts and ideas to progress so that they too can learn to survive a more turbulence environment without jeopardising their future, or blaming others for their misfortune or lack of wit. Close the communication by thanking them for understanding and adding anything else you’d like to say to ensure there are no hard feelings.
Ultimately, setting a record to the true event is far more productive than a false-weighted environment full of cover ups where credit and praise are unfairly given and taken. This is also to ensure everyone in the team are rewarded according to the merit of their true contributions, and individual quality are of par across. But when Management keeps a blind eye, or encourage these type of toxicity in an organisation, then it’s time to play a game where your competition definitely lacks behind and will never catch up however hard (or foul play) they try. Never reveal the “how” as any stolen ideas, design, credits and copycats, will never be able to be constructed as per original source (you) do. Be confident and keep your Star quality. Rest assured, the key important shareholders and bosses that really matters always know the real happenings, on stage and behind the curtains. And they are taking notes. Good luck !
Source: Future Workplace
