If you were in my shoes?

[Sp4wn]

what would you do if the following scenario happened to you:

 

-come up with an idea that will help the customer

-feedback to the higher up for quite some time (about 14 emails to show the though process, justifications and sources)

-boss asks colleague X for a second opinion to make sure the idea is sound

-within a few minutes colleague X has emailed customer the entire idea and has started a dialogue directly with them

-receive an apology from higher up, since it's too late to interject at this junction

 

if you were me, would you let it go? (and yes, this just happened recently)

 

so far, i've simply chosen to hold my tongue so at least if the deal materializes, everyone benefits. the truth is, i would have been fine if the boss had run with the idea, but not the colleague, since the guy never has anything good to say ... ever. i would love to jump into the thread midway since i can better explain the idea, but it seems the driver's seat is already taken ...

[Darryn]

what would you do if the following scenario happened to you:

 

-come up with an idea that will help the customer

-feedback to the higher up for quite some time (about 14 emails to show the though process, justifications and sources)

-boss asks colleague X for a second opinion to make sure the idea is sound

-within a few minutes colleague X has emailed customer the entire idea and has started a dialogue directly with them

-receive an apology from higher up, since it's too late to interject at this junction

 

if you were me, would you let it go? (and yes, this just happened recently)

 

so far, i've simply chosen to hold my tongue so at least if the deal materializes, everyone benefits. the truth is, i would have been fine if the boss had run with the idea, but not the colleague, since the guy never has anything good to say ... ever. i would love to jump into the thread midway since i can better explain the idea, but it seems the driver's seat is already taken ...

 

Make noise - complain to boss that colleague had no right to approach client, and demand that you be included in discussion.

 

If any commission is at stake - demand that you get it as was your idea.

[Sk65]

what would you do if the following scenario happened to you:

 

-come up with an idea that will help the customer

-feedback to the higher up for quite some time (about 14 emails to show the though process, justifications and sources)

-boss asks colleague X for a second opinion to make sure the idea is sound

-within a few minutes colleague X has emailed customer the entire idea and has started a dialogue directly with them

-receive an apology from higher up, since it's too late to interject at this junction

 

if you were me, would you let it go? (and yes, this just happened recently)

 

so far, i've simply chosen to hold my tongue so at least if the deal materializes, everyone benefits. the truth is, i would have been fine if the boss had run with the idea, but not the colleague, since the guy never has anything good to say ... ever. i would love to jump into the thread midway since i can better explain the idea, but it seems the driver's seat is already taken ...

 

i think there's a few point to note.

 

1)

do you intend to impress your boss or customers?

who determine your bonus at year end?

 

2)

not his plan, he din go through the though process,

sure picha lobang later one.

also, judging from the way you mentioned about that colleague, he doesn't seemed like those who can twist and turn to make up a good story to continue.

pray hard they need your inputs soon

 

3)

complain to boss again,

to show him your displeasure and not respected + red flag your colleague.

 

Best your proposal comes in a word document, where the owner can be traced including the starting time.

and also to "tut" your colleague about his work ehtics.

i think his actions equates to stealing.

if he can steal your idea and sell it as his,

he can definately steals the company's idea and sell it to the competitor.

this is not a small matter.....

 

 

 

[Altivo]

Well at least, take heart that management is aware and did acknowledge your contributions. For me, i kenna before something similar too where someone else took my idea and presented as his. What I did was to make sure that I put down in writing that the idea originated from me during my appraisal. Also made sure I had black and white supporting my claims.

 

[Sk65]

Make noise - complain to boss that colleague had no right to approach client, and demand that you be included in discussion.

 

If any commission is at stake - demand that you get it as was your idea.

 

very good point.

 

[Moredhel]

Let your mgt know that this is just one of your many ideas and if they intend to pass any credit from your ideas to someone else, then perhaps another organisation would be able to give credit where credit is due.

 

Let them know that although what you are doing is for the good of the company, but this is just blatant disrespect for an employee's efforts and might erode future contribution from your co-workers.

 

Of course, put in a nice way.

 

As to your colleague, make sure everyone in your camp knows.

[Coolbluewater]

Just take this as a form of lesson learnt. Been through, except the person who steal my idea was no other than my ex ex boss. I found out through another department head that he got all the credit behind my back, while infront of me, he criticised every single point of my idea. So I know exactly how you feel. Because he was my boss, I let it go. After that, all new ideas I've suggested were ideas related to system, which involves programming. Something he don't have a single knowledge on. I'm a finance guy by the way :)

 

 

 

[JaydenSTI]

believe you can only let it go, reason being simple, if your "boss" isn't experience enough to comprehend and support your idea, instead to seek your "peer" for a second opinion, he should be your peer not boss, unless he is your big boss's son/daughter/grandchildren/whateverchildren.

 

in any case, i believe the "boss" and the subordinate relationship is far more than just work relationship, as the main thing is to promote your company service, but there is a "nominated" executor.

 

Really no point making noise now, as you had mentioned the "higher up" had apologized. to me, this is the end of story.

 

generally, i see more bosses "stealing" ideas from subordinate than the one you had described. but most of the time, if not all, they will screwed up the project, at the end still the idea generator kiok sai, credit still to boss for good leadership. Thats life.

[Moredhel]

Seems in here, we have a low tolerance for thieves of any kind...

 

[LoverofCar]

In some way...it is political move to bring out good idea in a formal meeting where many people are presence...of course, only if you know the idea is unbeatable.....and will work to your advantage...this is a ''claim credit move''.....

Edited September 18, 2012 by LoverofCar

[West_end]

1. Why would your boss want to seek 2nd opinion from your Colleague X?

 

2. Apparently your Col.X has the go-ahead from your boss to sell your ideas and deal directly with the customer.

 

Ask yourself why is your boss doing that? It could have been someone else beside Col. X getting involved, so long the boss trust him/her to be up to the task.

[Sp4wn]

well commission hard to say at this point, so too soon to think that far ahead.

 

as some of you mentioned, just let it go i suppose. at the end of the day, if he can't handle the problem, it will most likely fall back on my lap since this is more of my expertise than his ...

 

unfortunately, im also not the type to bother to gossip so no need to tell others, instead I'll just learn how to approach each idea and how I share it ...

 

i was pretty pissed yesterday, but after a nice long 1.5hour run, i definitely felt better. at the end of the day, if it goes through, i'll always have the email thread (since the email to the customer appears shortly after i finished the previous email thread) and if there is some benefit, let the guy have it ... karma always comes and goes around i suppose. fighting / arguing wont really help the situation i guess ...

[Sp4wn]

1. Why would your boss want to seek 2nd opinion from your Colleague X?

 

2. Apparently your Col.X has the go-ahead from your boss to sell your ideas and deal directly with the customer.

 

Ask yourself why is your boss doing that? It could have been someone else beside Col. X getting involved, so long the boss trust him/her to be up to the task.

 

actually .. the boss sent me an email as soon as he saw the email go out cos he was quite shocked himself ><

he asked colleague X because both of us are basically equals in standing in the company ... and it was a new idea that hasnt been tested. thats why he apologized as he didn't expect the guy to act on it ... he is quite a straight forward fella ... imho, for him to apologize means he meant it

[Moredhel]

actually .. the boss sent me an email as soon as he saw the email go out cos he was quite shocked himself ><

he asked colleague X because both of us are basically equals in standing in the company ... and it was a new idea that hasnt been tested. thats why he apologized as he didn't expect the guy to act on it ... he is quite a straight forward fella ... imho, for him to apologize means he meant it

 

Apologize is useless....

 

End of the day, can use mouth talk all day but no action done shows you the meaning.

[LoverofCar]

actually .. the boss sent me an email as soon as he saw the email go out cos he was quite shocked himself ><

he asked colleague X because both of us are basically equals in standing in the company ... and it was a new idea that hasnt been tested. thats why he apologized as he didn't expect the guy to act on it ... he is quite a straight forward fella ... imho, for him to apologize means he meant it

 

so did your boss credit it to you openly for the good idea? If not...it only talk...

[Deckbuild]

actually .. the boss sent me an email as soon as he saw the email go out cos he was quite shocked himself ><

he asked colleague X because both of us are basically equals in standing in the company ... and it was a new idea that hasnt been tested. thats why he apologized as he didn't expect the guy to act on it ... he is quite a straight forward fella ... imho, for him to apologize means he meant it

 

As a boss, he should learn protect his subordinate as well, he should have his way to direct the customer back to you as it's you who started this. As for the other guy, does he know that you are the one handling this? If he did know and he did it, he command no respect.

 

I have the same situation in my company now, I was being assign many customer, but alot of my customer are being cross handle by someone else, which makes me look like a fool when it comes to meeting with bosses. Currently trying to get them all back...

[Moredhel]

believe you can only let it go, reason being simple, if your "boss" isn't experience enough to comprehend and support your idea, instead to seek your "peer" for a second opinion, he should be your peer not boss, unless he is your big boss's son/daughter/grandchildren/whateverchildren.

 

in any case, i believe the "boss" and the subordinate relationship is far more than just work relationship, as the main thing is to promote your company service, but there is a "nominated" executor.

 

Really no point making noise now, as you had mentioned the "higher up" had apologized. to me, this is the end of story.

 

generally, i see more bosses "stealing" ideas from subordinate than the one you had described. but most of the time, if not all, they will screwed up the project, at the end still the idea generator kiok sai, credit still to boss for good leadership. Thats life.

 

 

Hmm...to me that's the kind of attitude that allows for scheming co-workers to take advantage of.

 

It's either you fight for your rights, or continually let others step all over you. I'm not advocating political warfare, but making know you're not someone that can be taken advantage of without consequences.

 

 

Sp4wn, first of all you got to know your value.

 

If your boss/company values you less than you value yourself, seek another boss/company who values your contribution for what it is.

 

 

[Sp4wn]

Hmm...to me that's the kind of attitude that allows for scheming co-workers to take advantage of.

 

It's either you fight for your rights, or continually let others step all over you. I'm not advocating political warfare, but making know you're not someone that can be taken advantage of without consequences.

 

 

Sp4wn, first of all you got to know your value.

 

If your boss/company values you less than you value yourself, seek another boss/company who values your contribution for what it is.

 

well, he was lucky i wasnt in the office when i saw the email ... (i actually prepared the email to the customers in my drafts folder already ... just needed to send it out after getting approval)

 

well, confrontation wont be good i suppose, since it may affect the other staff ... but you're right, there has to be a way to show him that there should be boundaries ...