According to a global survey conducted by resume assistance company Kickresume, 85% of office workers have experienced annoying colleagues. The most frequently cited irritating behavior is "stealing credit."

“It’s my idea!” Your colleague confidently presents an idea you shared yesterday as their own during a meeting—a frustrating scenario that elicits natural anger. However, the person who took “your” idea might genuinely not remember its origin due to a psychological phenomenon.

Beyond Kickresume's survey, research firm Perspectus Global also identified "stealing others’ ideas" among colleagues' most infuriating behaviors. Studies indicate that when creativity is misappropriated, personal feelings are hurt and team trust erodes; this can ultimately decrease innovation and negatively impact overall work performance.

The desire for recognition appears to be deeply ingrained in human nature. Psychologists have found even five-year-olds recognize and oppose plagiarism—a testament to the social significance of intellectual property sensitivity. In today's workplace, attributing success is often directly linked to promotions and raises.

However, before confronting a colleague who has taken credit for your idea, psychologists suggest considering two points:

First, stealing credit may not always be intentional. Psychological research highlights 'cryptomnesia,' an unconscious phenomenon where individuals unknowingly plagiarize others' ideas. Experiments have shown that participants recalling thoughts after group discussions often attribute other people’s contributions as their own without realizing it.

Second, innovation rarely arises in isolation. Martin Reeves from the Center for Innovation at MIT and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Bob Goodson argue that even seemingly revolutionary innovations—like Facebook’s ‘Like’ button—have precedents. In similar work environments facing identical problems, different individuals are likely to independently arrive at comparable conclusions.

Research by Vanderbilt University behavioral scholar Eric VanEpps and colleagues found that in workplace settings, subtly combining personal achievements with recognition for others' contributions is a more effective approach to self-promotion than boasting solely about oneself.

Interestingly, Rebecca Schaumberg from Wharton Business School at Penn discovered through her research that excessive bragging can backfire. When two individuals achieve identical results but one remains humble while the other brags excessively, the modest person tends to be perceived as more capable due to their apparent untapped potential.

The Harvard Business Review suggests these strategies for addressing stolen credit:

First, make your contributions visible by including others in email correspondence with superiors and establishing clear records of work. Second, cultivate allies who can advocate on your behalf during critical moments through face-to-face interactions that showcase your expertise and efforts.

Balancing self-assertion with workplace harmony is essential. Documenting ideas, cultivating a professional network willing to vouch for you, and learning how to gracefully defend one's achievements at appropriate times are crucial steps toward navigating these situations effectively.

Understanding the psychological factors behind credit disputes can help us navigate them more positively!
(Writer: Wang Zhenyi; This article was authorized by Business Weekly)