Have you ever been forced to sit through a presentation only to discover that someone had stolen your ideas and your work but had “forgotten” to give you the credit? After twenty years in corporate America, I can write an entire book on this phenomenon. Because I worked in a largely male-dominated space, I knew my ideas would not be embraced unless they came from a man. I would really have to sell it, and then let them present it. Thankfully, those days have passed.
However, there are still idea pickpockets out there. Today, I have a few tips that I would like to share with you to keep you from having to live through this nightmare.
Document, document, document. If you do not document it, it was never said, and it never happened. Keep all related emails, meeting minutes, and telephone logs. Documentation is irrefutable evidence.
Don’t jump to conclusions. Have a private conversation with the person using your idea or work before you assume that they have taken ill-deserved credit for your work. It could be a simple error and an easy fix. A simple revision will solve this problem.
Don’t start whining. NO ONE likes a whiner, and your attitude may cause you to look worse than the person who stole your work.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I will share with you to help keep your intellectual property safe.
Present in a public place. Let everyone hear the same thing at the same time. This will guarantee that EVERYONE will know who has ownership of that idea.
Talk it out. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your boss if you suspect that your material is being stolen. Get it out in the open and clear the air. Holding this frustration in will only cause it to grow and fester.
Document your work. Always keep good records. If you are ever requested to submit proof of your work, it will always be available.
Do not share ideas with your boss exclusively. Make sure that the entire team knows that these are your ideas.
If these tips and pointers do not work for you, it may be time to get a new boss. I encourage you to flourish where you are celebrated, and not tolerated.
Do you have any ideas that you need to tweak to increase your sales, and better support your team? Do you need a speaker to come in and bring cohesiveness to your sales team? I am only a phone call away. Schedule a time to talk with me, and together we can turn things around.