Three months ago I finished a report that took me two weeks. My line manager was on leave. I handed it to a senior colleague to pass along.
He presented it as a collaborative effort — "we worked on this together" — in front of the MD. The MD praised him specifically.
I said nothing.
Why? Because I am junior. Because he has more political capital than me. Because I told myself one battle wasn't worth losing the war. Because if I spoke up I would be the difficult one, the one who can't work in a team.
He got a project lead role last month. I am still where I was.
The honest confession: I am angry at him, but I am angrier at myself. I allowed it. I could have sent the MD the original file. I could have mentioned my contribution at any point. I chose silence because silence felt safe.
Safe didn't get me anything except the satisfaction of being the one who actually did the work while someone else got the credit.
Next time I will not be silent. But I needed to say this first.
He presented it as a collaborative effort — "we worked on this together" — in front of the MD. The MD praised him specifically.
I said nothing.
Why? Because I am junior. Because he has more political capital than me. Because I told myself one battle wasn't worth losing the war. Because if I spoke up I would be the difficult one, the one who can't work in a team.
He got a project lead role last month. I am still where I was.
The honest confession: I am angry at him, but I am angrier at myself. I allowed it. I could have sent the MD the original file. I could have mentioned my contribution at any point. I chose silence because silence felt safe.
Safe didn't get me anything except the satisfaction of being the one who actually did the work while someone else got the credit.
Next time I will not be silent. But I needed to say this first.
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