The Glory-Taker at Work

You sound very aggrieved and/or upset by T's actions.

Every now and then that is just going to happen, but seemingly from your note this happens multiple times between you and the same person and it upsets you.

You have to work out what game YOU want to play. Because then YOU have complete control over your response to whatever someone does.

If you want to be a part of the corporate jungle then you have to learn to play the game that Tonto is playing, but in a smarter, more pleasant and more proactive way.

There are ways of taking the wind out of his sails in an impersonal, non-attacking, non-aggressive manner which doesn't target T or any other individual. If done correctly, these methods leave no room for others to come in and take the credit for your work.

And the first thing to do is to determine your and the other person's real motivation. You can't strategise an approach without knowing your own goal nor without doing some recon on the other folks.

Alternately you have to choose if this is really important to you.

If you don't want to "play the corporate game", get involved in "politics", "cover your ass" - whatever phrase you wish to use - then the most important thing is to develop a really good, thick skin and simply not be concerned when similar things to what you have mentioned in your note inevitably occur. If you decide it isn't important to you, then just let it go. Seriously.

You'll get a good laugh from the sidelines watching the games occur with other folk.

Or, when they or their actions do worry you because of some short-term event, just go home, kick the sh!t out of your cat, and return to work the next day with a refreshed attitude.

But it is extremely difficult to be half-and-half. If you hate "corporate politics", or hate playing the "corporate game", AND you get pissed off when someone takes your credit for a particular project, then somewhere along the line you will actually have to make a decision.

Participate and win, ignore it completely, or look for somewhere else.

Otherwise it will bring too much negativity to your day and life. And that's not a good thing in any kind of long term, whatever that is to you.

Bottom line is to take responsibility for yourself and your response in the workplace.

is one of my all time favorite books.

It's a blast to figure out which game people are trying to play with you and then, oh so innocently, spike their ball. Which of course is my own favorite game, NIGYYSOB.

A few years back, my boss in the IT department was, basically an old Cobal programmer. Our company had in place an award system for innovative creations for the company. It was cash and a plaque. I created a software paging system to communicate with our warehouse. I worked on this at home on my own time. I install it and get it working by myself. He was no where around. A few weeks later, corporate calls me and my boss in for a meeting, we are both presented with an award for our creative work that we did.
Oh BTW idea was submited by him to corporate as something he and I worked on.
But in the end it worked out, He was shortly after let go due to downsizing, and I am still here.

I don't think that you/we will ever be rid if idiots like TONTO... they're everywhere! It took a long time for me, but I'm beginning to learn that when these situations arise, the one thing that I/we have the most control over is our own attitudes... yeh, I know it sounds like bull-pookey but it's true, really. The more we take offense and loose our cool the more we look just like TONTO. WoWaH!?

Now, once the attitude is in check, the situation can be reviewed without emotional encumbrances and a positive course of action can be laid out which, in many cases, may be no action at all. You will see that "most" folks see TONTO for the "fool" ...without needing to point it out!

P.S. I gave my "TONTO" the name of Mugsy, from the old TV movies "The Bowery Boys" - Mugsy liked to use big words that he misused or could not pronounce or both. I learned to laugh (inside) at his buffoonery.

I have seen my share of those who are capable of pulling themselves into other peoples' spotlights. It may be tempting to expose or ridicule the poser, but it's not ultimately worth it. In time, the poser's actions generally leads to their own career implosion. If it's a large disparity between ability and perception; it might be a large implosion. Staying out of it keep you safe WHEN things go South for them.

Your wife is right. If your boss knows you're the real deal, I wouldn't sweat it. Your coworkers will also have a good idea, too. Having the right people know is all that matters. Until then, you will have to sit back and wait for the implosion. Rather than letting it anger you, treat it as if you have front row seats to a really bad movie that you have a small part in. Remember that it will be over in a bit and when the credits roll, not everyone's name will be there.

Mr. Ramirez,
YOU have got to get away from this type of idiot; he is due to detonate in the near future, let him blow up on his own, don't get near him because the fallout will hit you. Peace and good luck to you. Glenn R.

Had a similar situation a few years ago with a contractor who was notorious for taking other people's inputs/ideas, presenting them as her own and not only getting credit but a promoted.

I used a combination of stealth and misdirection in the situation. I started by documenting my ideas, work, etc.. and when approached by her for my input would either state a half truth or usually tell her I didn't know about the subject, my fellow co-workers basically did the same thing (she wasn't well liked by most for some reason) and suddenly our super smart person was fumbling in meetings, unable to meet suspenses, not getting "her" tasks done and making bad mistakes. It wasn't too long before she moved on to a different job in a different state.

I had a co-worker of this sort. They would email me about technical problems they were having and I'd spend some time looking at what they had and either tell them what to fix or fix it, test it and let them know what I changed.

FF a few months. I see an email about how said worker managed to fix X problem in no time and X problem was the one I fixed for this co-worker. No mention of help from anyone and accepted all the credit. From talking to other co-workers, this person did this to many people. This person got prompted 6 months later, no doubt due to others help and hard work.

I now cc my supervisor and both my group and the group of the person I am assisting. I do so in order to share the knowledge and so my boss knows I am assisting others when asked for help. If I am working on a project and there are people such as your Tonto, I cc them when working on a project so they are in the loop. If Tonto wanted to be involved in the project, I trust my boss to know that too many chefs (especially one with limited knowledge of a microwave) spoil the soup.

I hate to say it, but I have been on both sides of this type of situation, Where I was perceived to be the "bad guy" taking credit for others work, and also on your end as well. However in both cases it turned out that it was miscommunications on both sides. In the one case I was working on a project with one group, when one of my compatriots took up the same cause with a different path. We arrived at the same result at about the same time. However my order for the parts had gone in first, to the same company (not surprising, since the company was a preferred provider), and my goods arrived first. The other individaul had just your reaction, but was not privy to the work that I and the group I had worked with had done. I was also unaware of his work. I was told to task him with the install. He had your reaction. And hated me forever after that. Even when he found out that the boss knew of my work even as they were working together. I guess the boss was checking who was proficient. I don't know. But relations were forever strained between us.

Another time, a certain individual sat out to torpedo my work. He belittled me with both his own and my supervisors, said my work was not adequate and eventually got others to believe that. I sank into a depression, and eventaully ended up on medication because I really let him get to me. Worse, I thought he was a friend. Finally I quit the job. I never did understand what was going on.

Neither, both or either of these may apply to you. But you need to step back and check out the whole story. It may be much more convoluted than you think.

One important thing to remember is that all but about 5% of people do NOT set out to be A**H****. Circumstances, personal needs/drives or situations produce the best or worst in all of us from time to time. Of course there is that 5%, too.

Regards,
Les H