I am worried that my boss has submitted my report to senior management and will take full credit for my ideas. I had sent my boss some ideas that i had came up with to be able to manage the staff better. Then, I noticed that we received a memo with all my ideas. I feel that he is taking credit for something he didnt create. I had been sending emails to my boss about it and he doesnt reply. What should I do? Should I confront? Please help.
2007-01-24 20:09:42 · 9 answers · asked by aggieprincess4u08 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
The report analyzed current department productitvity and recommended several steps that i thought would improve employee output without increasing individual workloads. The report had my name and the resources I used. He couldnt like just erase my name...could he?I thought that maybe i have overstepped the boundaries by making recommendations that might implied that he wasnt doing a good job but then I saw the ideas in the memo...HELP
2007-01-24 20:19:09 · update #1
rule #1: your ideas expressed out loud become your boss' ideas
rule #2: see rule #1
Seriously though, this is really prevalent with bosses who are incompetent / unimaginative / at their Peter point (link below) ... and there is very little you can do about it except sit on the really good ideas until it is your turn to be the boss. Don't think ill of your boss ... he's just reacting badly to the problems and stress in his life.
In my 30+ years, I have found that a good boss doesn't "steal" ideas. They pass them along with full credit. They want THEIR boss to know that they can be promoted because they have someone who can move up the ladder behind them without a great upheaval in the business.
Keep that in mind when you become boss.
Having said all that, let me point out that you should NEVER* communicate directly to your bosses boss. This is really bad from so many angles I cannot even begin to describe it. And it will only serve to p*** off the boss you are already having problems with.
If your boss has indeed taken your ideas on purpose, he surely does NOT want you to confront him about it. And if he keeps doing it on purpose, you have to chose to live with it or move on.
If he has done this accidentally, confronting him will only make him uncomfortable and maybe force him to an action you will regret. Chances are it won't happen again and you can let bygones be bygones (ie, forgetaboutit).
And here is another thought. You work for the company. The company pays you to have good ideas. You provide good ideas to the company (via the boss). Your good ideas benefit everyone (including yourself I suspect). Okay. Does the company really care where the idea came from? Probably not. Your group is judged on overall productivity not individual. So no harm, no foul. So that's a little weird but it is one way to look at it.
* If you suspect your boss is doing something actually illegal, assume his boss is also in on it and consider anonymous tips to the local police or FBI office. If your boss is harassing you sexually, document it and hand the documentation over to the HR department or the local FBI office.
2007-01-24 20:28:31 · answer #1 · answered by jims2cents 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can't communicate with your senior management directly without going through your boss. It is OK because you may be at the operational level/ supervisor level.
Have you ever asked your boss amicably that whether all these things are from your ideas? If not , how do you know and how do you say that?
You have to forget " I " factor and think in a broader manner and turn in to "we" factor. what you have suggested is for the well being of the staff and the work place. So be happy. You will be benefited by the ultimate success of your work place.
2007-01-25 04:23:53 · answer #2 · answered by shane_manila2001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unfortunately that is how some people do ask for ideas and then present them as their own... I would try to document it as much as possible and see if upper management would do something if you can prove... does anyone else have this issue or people you know of from the past? if so your boss will probably not change his business like ethics now or ever. I would stop sending him ideas if he asks play dumb if your boss' boss ask speak up.
do you really think you boss will admit to taking your ideas, oh please bad idea to even waste your time typing the email... If you do confront him in a public setting be prepared at the possibility to go packing...
2007-01-25 04:25:22 · answer #3 · answered by De 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just grin and bear it as thats life and the people in it. If your not too attached to your job you can always quit and cite that as the reason, that way you can get credit for your ideas, but better have alternate work lined up beforehand.
2007-01-25 04:23:58 · answer #4 · answered by larryclay2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not confront him, you will end up unemployed for sure.You cannot win this now.
Get over it and next time be more careful. Do your job and when the right time comes and he will ask for your ideas, send your report to senior management.
Good luck and be patient.
2007-01-25 04:24:39 · answer #5 · answered by amandarosallyn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep proof of your ideas. Send one copy to your manager and another to another manager. The other manager can be a witness.
2007-01-25 04:25:01 · answer #6 · answered by Kita 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all you need proof that thier your ideas and not your boss'. Without that whoeve is in charge of your boss probably won't do anything.
2007-01-25 04:13:43 · answer #7 · answered by THE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ha Ha.
2007-01-25 04:13:35 · answer #8 · answered by marklemoore 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God Bless you, i think you can do nothing, depends on how your boss treat you.
2007-01-25 04:59:18 · answer #9 · answered by tjun 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋