Why Do Some People Take Credit for Others' Work? Let's Discuss Their Motivations and Impact

Dear Friends,

Eight Questions. Any brave answers?

1. What do you call a person who takes credit for someone else's hard work?
2. Who are these people who indulge in these unethical practices of cheating others of their hard work?
3. Why do they do these things? What are their compulsions and motivations?
4. What kind of education would they have received?
5. Can we call that education?
6. What kind of upbringing, habits, lifestyles would these kinds of people have?
7. Are they themselves responsible, or should we blame their teachers, environment, system, society?
8. What can we do with these people? How do we treat them? Do they deserve respect?

ANY ANSWERS? ANY BRAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE?

Capt. Chand Pathak

Talking of brave/bold answers, the following may sound too straightforward to some. I would love if it rolls out a controversy and subsequently, the thread…

1. What do you call a person who takes credit for someone else's hard work?

An opportunist, who has been tuned wrongly. Instead of rightful opportunities alone, the person doesn't mind encashing on any opportunity rightfully or not. More than this guy, it is the inexperience of the first person, who hasn't probably learned to 'take' the credit or create situations (in this extremely dynamic world) – situations that would have credit roll into his/her lap.

The other name for such a person would be "short-sighted", because such techniques may help in the short run, but cannot surely be a long-term permanent solution to a way of life.

2. Who are these people who indulge in these unethical practices in cheating others of their hard work?

Mostly corporate people who know how to jump into situations and pick up the credit on their own. They may be called selfish, but that's how some of us are. Again, it is good such people exist because then it gives us the opportunity to work SMART and keep our eyes/ears open. Be alert to identify such people who may not grab onto your hard work. It's survival of the smartest now.

3. Why do they do these things? What are their compulsions and motivations?

Superiority complex is what drives them. There may be no compulsions, but a lot of motivation to play such a game. As a child, probably no one had the time to watch their actions and derive their motives from those. That grew into such gross violations when they grow up. Not sure if such people also peeped into others' answer sheets during an examination and got away with very good marks eventually! But WHY do they do it... because some specific instances of so-called success that they had, coupled with no one to check the wrong, which grew into such a personality trait.

For example, no parents would have ever told their children to start smoking. But a lot of people do. WHY? What are their compulsions and motivations? Wrong HABIT that got developed?

4. What kind of education would they have received?

No one would have taught them to cheat or jump onto others' hard work, but these are things they pick up/educate themselves on through short-term gains. Only if someone more responsible would have put a short-term capital gain TAX on them when things were still under control.

5. Can we call that education?

Yeah, education that is uncontrolled. Translate this to Uncontrolled Enthusiasm to do wrong things. Education is necessary. Enthusiasm is also necessary. But do we let it go haywire? Nuclear energy is necessary, but do we start bombing places. All things around can be channelized into the right or wrong track... through guided missions. Education alone will not ensure things falling into place on their own. Check "what kind of" education is being given, what impact is it having, or are there some extra-uncalled-for education which the student is picking up on the way? If yes, kill it then and there. A lawn needs to have lush green grass to be appreciated by all. But weeds do come up time and again. They need to be cleaned. If we don't, can we call it a lawn (read, education)?

6. What kind of upbringing, habits, lifestyles would these kinds of people have?

Like the ones discussed above.

More importantly, it is not a permanent way of life. After damaging many other careers, someday it would come back to their own. "That" day their own lifestyle would change – but would it be too late? Till that doesn't happen, they, for sure, are living a SMART life... till the time the judges don't identify that it's only the credit that they grabbed, but not the real hard work. Even till that time, they would be treated as SMARTER than the lot, who at least can identify opportunities and grab them on time and make use of them too.

7. Are they themselves responsible, or should we blame their Teachers, Environment, System, Society?

Parents... sorry... "ignorant" parents are to be questioned first. Then the teachers. Blaming the environment/system/society doesn't help. It is there... accept the nature of that animal. Once accepted, parents and teachers need to ensure it doesn't have wrong effects on an individual. They need to coach that taking credit is necessary, identifying and availing opportunities are very important to live a life... but also be ready TO DO THE HARD WORK... so that you are ready for any eventuality.

In the discussion above, we have subconsciously assumed that such people will NEVER get into hard work. In those cases, they will still learn it the hard way, at the high cost of others.

8. What can we do with these people? How do we treat them? Do they deserve respect?

Identify them, to begin with. Be smarter. Allow them to live under an illusion. If you are smarter, you will play your cards much more smartly. Learn from them in order to be ready with your counter moves next time. And for that learning, do respect them. If they were not there, you wouldn't learn the art of being alert and not realize the need to be smarter.

Dear Raj,

Your's is one of the most studied, objective, dispassionate, and sensible replies I could have imagined.

Brilliant!!

Please do keep contributing to this forum. We all need people like you!

What I could decipher from your reply was that you believe that these people are "Smarter". Indeed they are. But I also believe that it is the inherent character of the person, the genetic makeup, which if nurtured in an environment and circumstances that aid his/her natural instincts, will turn him into this kind of person.

I know of people who are smart enough to realize that they are being taken advantage of but do nothing/can do nothing because:

1. The other "Smart" person is in a "position" where he can take advantage (It is like hitting a person who has his hands tied behind him and can't hit back). For example - Take away his "position", and he/she may lose all the smart edge.

2. The victim may do nothing as it is not his inherent nature to hit back, outsmart others, hurt anyone, or kill his conscience in order to prove his smartness.

I feel it boils down to who listens to his/her conscience and who doesn't.

Capt Chand Pathak

Really genius questions and finally the genius answers for all the questions. But in my opinion, these smart people who exist in the beautiful world, you cannot change them. I agree that these are some genetic qualities and some are situational or can say that due to the environment. And finally, these smart people are always smart and it's not a short term. In the long term also, they always get success as they use all the opportunities to avail others' credit. The people who are not that smart to grab others' opportunities, they cannot change themselves as they are taught in that way in the learning stage.
So, the victim always is a victim, and the smart person gets smarter and enjoys others' hard work. In my opinion, it's the hardcore bottom line of all these questions and answers.

All the eight questions have just one answer, and that is "Our POLITICIANS." Don't let your child be like them.

Anju Prince

Same situations I am also facing, the victim always is a victim, and the smart person gets smarter and enjoys others' hard work. The management also does not recognize the hardworking person. How many days and years will it go on like this?

Hi all,

Just wondering if only the victims and the less smart people cry foul? Or do "smart" people too crib about people taking advantage of them.

Again, if I compare myself to people smarter than me (fortunately, I can realize if the other person is smarter than I am after some interaction) and how some of them are pretty honest in their dealings. Then, I see some people who I presume may be a little less smart than I am, and how, despite that, I treat them with utmost respect and honesty. I again feel all this may not be a question of survival of the smartest but more to do with one's ethical values and moral conscience.

Thieves, burglars, dacoits, conmen, etc., are supposedly less smart in the chain, but still try to take away others' hard-earned money. Almost the same as stealing someone's hard work... right? You tell me!!

Capt. Chand Pathak

Hi all,

As an HR professional, and since HR and Finance are usually in opposite directions, I have worked with a finance manager who is typically described by the 8 Qs and answers posted. I have found that the best way to deal with such a dominant personality is to confuse him/her, and when they are confused, they make mistakes. It's all about 'adopt' and 'adapt'. How? Well, be smart enough to create your own circle, draw this person into that circle, and tell him/her to stand in the corner.

All the very best.

I think there is no difference between underworld activities and the corporate world. Both are exploiting.

Dear Mr. Capt Chand Pathak,

Eight Answers for your Questions. Any brave answers?

1. What do you call a person who takes credit for someone else's hard work?

Ans: Manager

2. Who are these people who indulge in these unethical practices of cheating others of their hard work?

Ans: Lazy

3. Why do they do these things? What are their compulsions and motivations?

Ans: Due to carelessness, a lot of work burden at a particular period. The hard worker is not capable of explaining his work properly and lacks leadership skills.

4. What kind of education would they have received?

Ans: Practical knowledge

5. Can we call that education?

Ans: Only for some issues

6. What kind of upbringing, habits, lifestyles would these kinds of people have?

No proper recognition, Loses his self-respect. He can cheat anyone (even himself). No proper lifestyle. But he will think that he is the head of all and he will maintain the prestige.

7. Are they themselves responsible, or should we blame their Teachers, Environment, System, Society?

First is himself and the remaining continues from environment to society.

8. What can we do with these people? How do we treat them? Do they deserve respect?

Either advice will work out or realizing will work out.

With regards,

D. Vivek
97865 22334

Hi all,

First of all I appreciate the efforts of Capt. Chand for asking such questions and Raj to answer them. I agree with what Raj mentioned, I would like to add my views.

1. What do you call a person who takes credit for some one else's hardwork?

1. Ans: In few words, Opportunist (as mentioned by Raj), mediocre or less then that (Because if they had some concrete element they would not need such tactics and probably would not have time to do so as they would be busy doing the task themselves other instead of labeling other's hard work as their own) , escapist (as such people escape form taking charge of uneasy situations on their part and very cunningly put other into it)

2. Who are these people who indulge in these unethical practices in cheating others of their hard work?

Ans: One because they lack element and want some one else to do things for them to label as their own, Two-because others around let them do it, three- our own value system does not let us fall on to their levels.

3. Why do they do these things? What are their compulsions & motivations?

Ans. Because of their personal traits mentioned in Ans. 1.

Compulsions are to succeed at any cost and motivations, some of them are self motivated and others are motivated by their own environment at home and outside it.

4. What kind of education would they have received?

Ans: Education? most of the people in corporate are educated atleast in terms of their possession of degree!!

Moral and ethical education is best suited that too at an early age of growing up.

5. Answered in 4.

6. What kind of upbringing, habits, lifestyles would these kind of people have?

Ans. Few thoughts, few seconds are enough to change one's mind positively as well as negatively. It is about the conveniences and vulnerability towards myriads of incidents we face in life. It is ones own decision what to pick from what all we saw and observed. Two siblings lived in similar settings turns out to be different individuals, the difference is because they perceived and related to thing differently.

7. Are they themselves responsible or should we blame their Teachers, Environment, System, Society.

Ans. Yes parents, teachers, society and environment do play an important role in shaping up our personalities but above all it is the individual who is responsible. Most of our children are morally strong but as they grow they leave certain traits and gain some on their own. If we introspect deeply, even we all have changed since our childhood.

8. What can we do with these people? How do we treat them? Do they deserve respect?
Ans. Communicate to them in their language! And about respecting them: Respect them (only) for being your GURUs in teaching you be alert and face the realities of the world smartly! In return teach them lessons too…

Which answers was I satisfied with?

Well... I was satisfied by the participation of so many thinkers and all those who contributed. The idea is to generate some awareness and discuss issues that are important in today's workplace. In a small way, we are all contributing to national character building.

Capt Chand Pathak

Dear all,

Very good discussion, congratulations to all. There are these unethical people everywhere. One should be smart, alert, have good people skills, good observation skills, and assertiveness to overcome problems. Moreover, DON'T LET OTHERS TAKE CREDIT FOR WHAT YOU HAVE TOILED FOR. Have the spirit as one quotation says, "A person who does not stop or make an effort to stop a crime against him is as guilty as a person who is doing a crime against him." It is our duty or it is ethical to teach such unethical people a good lesson.

Regards,
Pratap