Coworker shuts down employee’s idea in front of external partner, then presents it to the team as her own after realizing it works: ‘I was the one pushing for the change’

Funny how a bad idea becomes brilliant once someone else gets to present it.

I’ve heard stories like this before, and some of them remind me of a little anecdote that I have for you…

A couple of years ago, I was working for a real estate agency in the marketing department. There were two of us on the team; it was a small one, since we were the ones developing the department. Everything had to be created, and we had a bunch of different ideas. I had one idea, a very good idea that innovated the way we scripted the videos that were showing off the houses that were for sale. 

My partner didn’t think much of it, since she didn’t think it went with the vibe of the company. She had more experience than me and had been working there for two years before I joined, so I trusted her and forgot about it. A couple of days later, my boss called both of us to a meeting, and he basically said to start implementing that idea. 

I was surprised and didn’t really follow what he said until he congratulated my partner, and then I realized she had presented my idea as her own to my boss. I didn’t say anything because I was new and didn’t want to cause any problems between the two of us. But I should have said something, not to my boss, but to her. It was my idea, and she shouldn’t have done that.

Imagine how I felt when I read this story… it was like I was talking to myself. I’d recommend the employee call the coworker out and claim what she deserves. It was her idea, and she deserves the credit for it. On the other hand, I’ll never understand how some coworkers can actually do that and take others’ ideas. Aren’t we supposed to be a team? We are pushing towards the same goal; why would you do this to me? Anyways, I think I’m taking this too personally now…