When you’ve put long hours into a project, you want proper credit for it. It can be frustrating to watch a co-worker present your collective work as his or her own. When someone steals the show, take these steps to put things right:
- Have a candid, face-to-face conversation. Give specific examples. Point out that he or she claimed to stay up all night finishing the project, for example, when you both did. Many times just identifying the behavior will put an end to it.
- Go to your boss. If you can’t resolve it with your coworker, go to your manager. Review the steps you’ve already taken. Suggest another solution or two that you’ve thought of, and ask your boss for input.
- Prevent it from happening again. Next time you work on a project together, be clear up front about roles and responsibilities. Agree early on that you’ll share the visibility.
Adapted from the HBR Guide to Office Politics.
