There are many people who have come before us and have tried things that, they have either failed at or succeed. In either case, one would think that if your idea came from that, you would properly credit the source.
When we read or hear about these awesome quotes and effective one liner that are followed by the author who said it; it’s important for copyright purpose that we put that quote in quotations and use the author’s name. If there is no rule on that, it should just be writer, publisher, journalism, commentator, producer etiquette that it’s done! It should just be known that it’s wrong to steal words or thoughts of others and present them on a forum as if it were your own. For instance, you have twitter account that is being stalked by a major producer, who uses all of your material as a writer; for his/her own show. It could be a good thing for you, to maximize your exposure and excel in what you do along with the fact that you are being presented in a larger view to a larger audience. However, it’s actually a horrible nightmare because you are actually not being presented. You are being ripped off for your words and thoughts by a fellow writer. You take pride in your work and you want credit for it. That is just the bottom line. You are not chasing a spot light; you just simply want the acknowledgement you deserve if someone will be using something you created.
Same thing happens in the workplace. Let’s say the director was given a project and because she/he was not able to produce timely results; team was assigned. You are a part of the small entry-level team working to assist the director. Let’s say the director comes to the table blank. Empty of ideas, nowhere to go or start. Well, the point of having a team really is to brainstorm and come up with ideas, solutions together etc., but the director is hitting rock bottom on this assignment. You step up with an executable and profitable plan that will return the company its greatest investment. You did all the research for it, scheduled all the meeting for it and you really took charge and made it happen. You made everyone look good and it makes you feel great because you did something for the team. You presented magic to them, the ability to create an idea or topic that everyone would be interested in –a target audience unlike anything before and the company rewards will be great.
When the time comes to present it to the company president, the director springs from his/her chair, as if it were an ah-ha moment and says, “I have a wonderful idea”. You sit and listen to your entire plan being plagiarized in audio. First hand, vocally from the person who should have given credit where credit was due. Whatever you do to handle it, it will probably eat you inside out to sit there and watch it happen. The board of director is there, as is the company CEO, CFO and all the big hitters with the company who perception of the director is of credit and value. What do you do?
It can be very discouraging. It just leaves you wondering how many ideas of others is this director really standing on to be in her/his position. Safe to say, a bad workplace relationship to have is with a team of people, especially the leader or person in leadership position, who make no real contributions to the success of a project-but still take all the credit.
P.S.
Should anyone from any radio show stumble across this article, I would appreciate credit. -)
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