Glory Hound

[Big Country]

I'm sure you all have worked for that one boss that takes credit for everything that you do. And tries to get his name mentioned some way. No matter what. What should one do about this.

[TConnolly]

Increase your vocabulary and use big words. If he tries to take credit for what you said, eventually his buncombe will be obvious to everyone except himself.

[TimWilborne]

I think this thread would be a step in the right direction. http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?showtopic=11292 But there are many variables that you must consider and only you can make the final decision, all we can do is give you advice. Of course as many know, Steve Bailey gave me the greatest advice of all when I was in your position, and I haven't regretted my decision once since

[Steve Bailey]

A wise man once told me there is no limit to what you can accomplish when you stop worrying about who gets the credit. Of course that advice is not very very helpful if you are a salesman paid on commission. Seriously, if it is obvious to you that this person is a glory hound, it's probably just as obvious to his superiors. If you go out of your way to demonstrate that he's taking credit for your work, you run the risk of appearing to be just as much of a glory hound. If the situation becomes unbearable, you may have to find a different boss. Why are you upset about it? If the group that reports to your boss is producing good results, management will recognize that the entire group contributed. If the results are exceptional, your boss just might get promoted and you may no longer report to him. Problem solved. Even if you are afraid that his hogging all credit is inhibiting your prospects for advancement, do you really think that pointing out his shortcomings is an effective way to advance your own career?

[gravitar]

Only if ToyoPuc controllers are fun to program :) Back to the original question, I think it's really a fine line between really being a "glory hound" and, well, being a supervisor. I mean, if you work for the guy, then to some extent he is entitled to take credit for work you do as his subordinate, isn't he? You can bet that if you screw something up bad enough to get management's attention, he'll be a lightning rod for the criticism. Now if he takes the credit in such a way that EXCLUDES you, or makes it look like it happened in spite of you, then you have a problem. The first thing you might want to try is, assuming you have some some time coming, is to take a nice long vacation. If you're pulling more than your own weight, it'll be painfully apparent when you're not there. Let him try to play superman when you're not around to make him look good. He might continue to be delusional, but everyone else will figure it out in a hurry. If you STILL think your chances for advancement are being hurt, you should see what the prospects are for a transfer within the company, or like you seem to already be doing, look outside the company. If you think you can find a better situation if the current one doesn't improve, then you're prepared to have a serious talk with your boss or even your boss's boss.

[BobLfoot]

The first thing to go up in any new office I move to is the following little poem. It has helped me thru many a difficult situation and I hope it might you. [iF] If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream--and not make dreams your master, If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much, If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son! --Rudyard Kipling

[Clay B.]

To me I just remind myself of the first rule of life: "What comes around goes around" I had a boss once that tokk credit for everything I did. Even bragged about it to other people. Well one day he had to show his "work". Only problem was he new the results of what I did, not how I did it. Needless to say when the dust settled he lost alot of credibility and a promotion. What did I have to do to make this happen? Nothing, I just continued my work and waited. I knew sooner or later it would come around and bite him. The icing on the cake. The company really needed the system to work so I was able to negotiate a nice pay raise out of the mess.

[Big Country]

I like that it has alot of truth to it. Thats why I haven't said anything about it. Thanks alot for the advice.

[TimWilborne]

I didn't say it was the right move for you. It was the right move for me. It took me about 6 months to make my decision. But I did get some very good advice from many members of this forum. They didn't necessarily say what I wanted to hear, but they did give me many different angles to my situation from. Two of those fine members have already given you some good input. But my situation was a bit different. In preparation for the birth of my son, I had to make a choice between time with family and time at work. There was no middle ground that I could stand in my situation. Without knowing more about your situation, it's hard to contribute much more. Fell free to PM me if you wish to talk about this more