Q & A Table of Contents
My Boss Takes Credit For My Ideas
From: Khalil, Beirut, Lebanon
Question: Can you suggest how to deal with my boss? He is a stupid guy, claiming know every thing even though he knows nothing. He collects information from all of us and forwards it our manager and takes credit which really belongs to us. He is blocking my promotion...
Response: It sounds as if you have several possible ways to deal with this situation. A first step could be to get together privately with the other colleagues whose ideas he steals to share information and ideas. You and your colleagues may want to figure out a way to communicate more directly with the manager.
For example, rather than simply giving away your ideas in conversation with your boss, you could write memoranda about ideas you have discussed and give photocopies to the manager as well as relevant colleagues. Perhaps you could limit your communication with your boss to paper -- with very little conversation. In that situation you could also send copies of ideas to the manager as well as sending the original to your boss.
Dealing directly with the boss himself is another alternative you should consider -- and develop a strategy about. Perhaps you and your colleagues should never provide him straightforward ideas. Instead you should break down the issues you would discuss into smaller pieces, then say to the boss, "I've been thinking about the 'x' problem and it looks as if there are several alternatives we could consider. What do you think about alternative 'a', alternative 'b', etc.?"
Note that you should not ask questions your boss can answer with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. You need to get him to present is own ideas. If he doesn't have an answer, suggest inviting the manager into a meeting where the three of you can discuss the choices. Your boss probably won't like this idea, but if he hears the same decision-making concept from several of your colleagues, he may at some point have to accept the idea.
Yet another possibility is to try to change your approach to your boss. Look for his human side; is he interested in football? does he know any good restaurants? how are his kids doing in school? Find areas where you and he can relate that have nothing to do with your work; perhaps you can develop a friendlier way of dealing with each other. Maybe you can ask him for advice about how to improve your job; perhaps he can be your mentor there.
Ultimately you have to decide whether your boss's behavior makes it 'impossible' for you to continue in your present job. You should investigate other jobs to see whether you might be better off moving if things in the current situation don't improve. If you know there's another place interested in hiring you, you're better able to go to your current boss and say, "I keep wondering how much you are helping me to get better pay or conditions in this company. There seem to be many alternatives 'out there' available to me and I have to wonder whether I'm better off staying with you or moving along."
You may find it difficult to use all these ideas at once; think about developing a strategy where you test each approach to see what works best.
Good luck,
Steve
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