How To Tackle Credit Stealing and Own Your Ideas at Work

Susan Room
May 29
4 min read

Have you ever shared an idea in a meeting, only to have it dismissed, then later praised when someone else presents it as their own? Frustrating, right? You’re not alone.

Credit stealing isn’t just annoying - it’s one of the top workplace behaviours that drive employees crazy. A survey by The Economist and BambooHR studies found that taking credit for others' ideas is the most infuriating managerial trait and a common issue in collaborative workplaces.

This problem goes beyond irritation. It impacts trust, collaboration, innovation, and personal growth within organisations. And it frequently comes up in my coaching conversations.

In this post I'll explore why idea ownership matters, why credit stealing is on the rise (with AI playing a role), and share a simple three-step method to handle it professionally. By the end, you’ll be ready to own your ideas and help create a fairer, more innovative workplace.

Why Credit Stealing Matters

The Impact on Individuals

When someone takes credit for your ideas, it’s not just your pride that takes a hit. It can lead to frustration, demotivation, and reduced trust in your team and workplace.

According to studies, this behaviour negatively affects job satisfaction and emotional well-being.

Feelings of unfairness can chip away at confidence, making it harder to speak up or share creative input in the future. This cycle can be damaging over time, leading employees to disengage from their roles entirely.

The Impact on Organisations

Credit stealing doesn’t just harm employees; it also damages organisational health. When employees feel ownership over their ideas, they’re more likely to share and collaborate. But if innovation is repeatedly hijacked, employees may resort to hoarding ideas or withholding contributions altogether.

Plagiarism, particularly with AI tools that can churn out polished responses and presentations in minutes, is further compounding the issue. While AI can be a great enabler, it can also increase the unintentional borrowing or reframing of ideas, causing even more confusion about originality. Over time, such behaviours corrode trust, slow down innovation, and hinder an organisation’s ability to stay competitive.

The Growing Normalisation of Credit Theft

Despite being socially unacceptable (and universally hated), credit stealing persists in workplaces for several reasons:

Increasing reliance on AI can blur the lines between idea authorship.
Competitive workplaces can predicate success on visibility and recognition.
Poor communication and lack of clear processes for idea sharing can create unintentional misunderstandings.

Addressing this issue isn’t just a matter of fairness; it’s essential for nurturing collaboration and long-term success.

By using this three-step method, you can own your ideas and tackle credit theft constructively:

Step 1. Pause Before Reacting

Avoid knee-jerk reactions that could escalate conflict, strain relationships, or hurt your reputation. It’s tough to stay calm in fast-paced workplaces, but it’s worth it.

Here’s what to do instead:

Take a Slow, Deep Breath: Breathe in through your nose, without raising your shoulders, and feel your lungs expand in all directions, like balloons filling up inside your ribcage.
STOP: Stop, Think, Organise Your Thoughts, Proceed. Take a moment to process what just happened and try to separate your emotions from the situation.
Keep it Professional: Hold off on public accusations or venting in the moment. It’s usually better to address things one-on-one later.

Step 2: Gather the Facts

Once you’ve calmed down, it’s time to establish whether you have a valid case of credit theft or a misunderstanding. Focus on facts rather than emotions to determine what really happened.

To help you:

Document Everything: Check your records (keeping date-stamped records of your contributions, including emails and collaborative tool entries, that back up your work is very helpful).
Check Your Assumptions: Could the person honestly think the idea was theirs? Cryptomnesia—when someone unintentionally claims an idea they’ve heard before as their own—is surprisingly common.
Get Perspective: Ask yourself: 'What am I missing?' It’s natural to feel defensive when your ideas are challenged, but taking a step back to consider other perspectives is crucial. Seek opinions from others and listen openly to their views.

Step 3: Use a Winning Voice*

If the facts are conclusive, address the issue directly but constructively. To avoid sounding defensive or confrontational, approach the conversation with a mindset of mutual resolution -because others will hear this in your voice.

To do this:

Think Win-Win: Instead of focusing on blame or feeling like a victim, focus on how good it’ll feel to resolve the issue in a professional and constructive way.
Use Your Winning Voice: Inspired by Acey Choy’s Winner’s Triangle, I coined* the term Winning Voice to describe the vocal qualities that naturally emerge when you approach conversations with a ‘win-win’ mindset. When your goal is mutual benefit, your speech slows, your pitch lowers, your tone conveys curiosity, and your volume stays balanced.
Use Win-Win Language: - Start with a Friendly Opener: "I’d like to chat about something I noticed in the meeting."
- Show Empathy and Understanding: "I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, but I feel like I didn’t get full credit for [idea]."
- Explain Calmly: "I brought this up in last week’s meeting, and I’d like us to agree on recognising my initial input in future discussions."
- Suggest Solutions: "Let’s find a way to ensure everyone’s input gets recognised."

By being empathetic and solution-focused, you’re more likely to resolve the issue and build stronger workplace relationships.

Credit stealing is a deeply personal and frustrating experience, but it doesn’t have to harm your relationships or career.

Next time you find yourself in this situation, remember...

1. Pause before reacting to assess the situation objectively.

2. Gather the facts through documentation and checking assumptions.

3. Speak with the credit stealer in a winning voice that encourages collaboration.

By doing this, you’ll not only keep ownership of your ideas, but inspire others to follow suit. With AI growing so quickly, I can't help thinking these skills will become increasingly necessary.

What’s your experience with sharing or protecting ideas at work?

Share your thoughts or tips in the comments below.

The Business Voice Coach Footnote: *I feel like I might have come up with the term 'winning voice', but who knows - maybe it’s just cryptomnesia! Let me know if you've seen or read it elsewhere.

Sources: The Behaviour That Annoys Colleagues More Than Any Other, The Economist, 6 May 2025 The Winner's Triangle, Choy, A. (1990). The Winner's Triangle. Transactional Analysis Journal, 20(1), 40–46.