How to deal with your peer stealing your idea?
Nov 21, 2022
One way happy employees turn unhappy is when they generate a great idea, openly share it and then a peer takes that idea and presents it as their own.
If you are that employee, here are 3 steps to consider:
1. Evaluate: What exactly happened? Did you generate it, they wrote it down or did you come up and add things to each others idea as a collaboration. Ensure your ego is in check. But look at it from an observer's view
2. Opinion: Was there someone else there that you trust and could ask for their opinion? A second opinion is a good one to get to ensure what you saw and felt was someone else's view also.
3. Communicate: If you felt that it needs to be raised, you need to do it respectfully despite other person's behaviour. Let them know that this is how you feel and it is not ok. This is the part you are in control of. Not the other person's. Either they will admit it or you have learnt a lesson either way
If you are the employer and one employee raises this issue, here are 3 steps to consider:
1. Evaluate: Ask them 1:1 for their view of the circumstances. Record this
2. Opinion: Ask anyone else that may have been present in that meeting for what their view of what went on
3. Communicate: Let them know the outcome and ask them to be mindful when working in a team. If this continues to happen between individuals, some records may need to be held and having your HR team involved
Have you had to encounter that as an employee or an employer? What did you do? Did it work or did it escalate?
Regards
Shivani
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