Claire looked pale and drawn as she slid into the lunch booth, joining her work colleagues for their weekly Friday “lunch bunch.”

“Hey Claire, what’s up?” asked Patsy. “You’re not looking so good.”

“Patsy, I’m pretty freaked out. Remember that big project proposal report I did? The one about the new product line I was proposing? The one I was wondering about because my boss never mentioned it again after I turned it in? Now I know.”

Claire slid several paper-clipped pages across the table.  The top document was an email from the CEO of the organization to Claire’s boss, congratulating him on such an innovative idea and well-thought plan of execution that would drive significant revenue to the bottom line. There was even mention of a big promotion for him.

The next page was the email from Claire’s boss to the CEO that introduced him to the product concept and the report. This was the page that rattled Claire.

In the email, her boss claimed all the credit for the new product idea, using phrases like “I thought of…I wondered….I talked to…I explored…I,I,I.”

The only mention of Claire came in a brief comment about  her “administrative” contribution.

Given that many of us have probably experienced something similar, let’s agree, OK?, that Claire’s boss is guilty of ego-overload and certainly isn’t walking the leadership talk.

So what’s Claire to do?

3 ways to handle the boss who steals your ideas

1) Get your attitude under control.

Treating your boss like crap might sound appealing as a way to get even, but unfortunately you’re the one who will pay (and not in a good way) with this approach. This is where you suck it up, continue to produce excellent work, and generate even more ideas.

2) Avoid the showdown and back-stabbing chatter.

The reputation of being an “idea stealer” usually spreads pretty fast via water cooler chats and the office grapevine. Stay above the fray by keeping your cool and behaving professionally. If/when the project does move forward. of course the boss assigns you to the work so you have the opportunity to demonstrate your expertise to the organization.

3) Be smarter next time.

Involve others within the organization as you begin your next new idea. Interview department heads and other key stakeholders/players as your work is unfolding. Create “quiet visibility” around your proposal as you pull others toward and into your work. Use a variety of mechanisms to spread the word, like asking people to read your report and comment on it.

Taking the high road is Claire’s surest bet.

What say you?

Image source:  morgueFile