Block the credit stealers!

It's a common occurrence in most professional lives - you do all the spade work, slog for the entire duration of the project, come up with brilliant ideas; only to find your boss or colleague walking away with all the credit at the end of it all. So what can you do to ensure that you get the credit that's due to you? Actually, there are some very simple steps you need to follow in your regular working pattern to get the credit you deserve:

Get noticed : Don't let anyone take away credit for your hard work

Take ownership
Whenever a new project is being discussed by your boss with your colleagues, make sure that you very clearly take ownership for a certain aspect of the project. If need be, approach your boss directly and ask to be assigned to a task and tell him you will be accountable for it. Be sure to take on a task that you know you can excel at.u00a0

Document everything
From the points discussed at meetings, to any ideas expressed by you, make sure that you keep a note of it all. Any progress made by you should also be put into a report and emailed to your colleagues and your superior.

Give presentations
The easiest way to give up your chance in the spotlight is to let another person give a presentation. Remember, what happened in the cricket world cup - Dhoni is remembered most for his winning six! You have to be there at the finish to come onto the radar of your superiors and be remembered at the time of evaluation and promotions.

Get testimonials
It's always good to have others blow your trumpet for you. So every time you get a client who is pleased with your work ask for a testimonial and share it with your office. The same goes for a colleague or senior who has praised your efforts. At least, post it on your office chat site, something like, "Mr Shah, complimented me on my ideas to improve ..., feel good to be appreciated."

Give credit
If you believe in Karma, you can associate with this logic. Anytime you have used a colleagues ideas or help in a particular task or project, make it a point to give due credit. What goes around; comes around - and you would be setting a healthy example for others to emulate in the workplace. A word of caution, if you are insistent on getting credit in the workplace, you also have to be willing to take the brickbats when some of your ideas fail, or your work has not got the results desired by the company.