Could Letting Your Boss Take Credit for Your Ideas Be a Power Move?
Idea “stealing” isn’t always about egomania
Jessica Powell, the former Google vice president who wrote The Big Disruption and told you how to quit your job, is here to answer your common but tricky work questions. Check back every other week for more management advice with a tech inflection.
My boss is always taking credit for my work, and it drives me crazy. What can I do?
Let’s start with what may seem like a counterintuitive question: Is this actually bad for you?
Yes, it’s infuriating to see your work “stolen,” but there can be good reasons for the theft, and sometimes it could even be good for you.
First, in a lot of jobs, and in both good and bad ways, your manager’s opinion counts more than anyone else’s in terms of your career trajectory. So, while it’s always good to have everyone singing your praises, the person you most need to make happy is your boss. You might be bummed that your project got sent on to the CEO without your name on it, but it’s important to remember that your immediate boss thought your work was good enough to send up the chain. You benefit — at least in terms of job security — from making your boss look good.
