CorpComms Magazine

Dear Ros

I have found myself in a tricky position with my boss.  The problem is that she keeps taking the credit for work I have done myself.  I really enjoy the work, and it's not that I feel the need to be lauded for everything I deliver, it's just that it sticks in my gullet to watch my boss accept congratulations for work that she hasn't done.  The situation came to a head last week when we had to present a new crisis and risk assessment communications strategy to the board.  I worked all through the weekend to research and create a new working paper, and then stayed late for three nights in a row to mock up some case studies to illustrate my ideas.  Meanwhile, my boss was away for a long weekend in Majorca.  At the board meeting she stood up and delivered the presentation and answered the questions without letting me utter a word.  The board were really impressed and the CEO told her that she had taken the group's communications to a new level.  And all I could do was sit there and fume as I watched my boss glow with praise for my work.

Daniel W, London W2

Dear Daniel

What comes across loud and clear from this is your desire for recognition.  You say you don't 'feel the need to be lauded,' but you feel angry when the board overlooks your contribution to your boss's presentation.  Let's start with the positives:  you enjoy your work and your current role gives you the scope to stretch yourself.  We have all had times in our career when we have had to work our socks off.  If you are ambitious it goes with the territory.  If your boss didn't have esteem for your ability she would not have given you the opportunity to work on such an important presentation.  Think back to before the board meeting, when surely you must have had a briefing meeting when you discussed and edited the presentation with your boss.  She could not have walked into the board meeting cold.  What were her comments and feedback?  Did you learn anything from it? 

Look at it another way.  If your boss's presentation had bombed, would the board have blamed you?  Observe the senior spokesmen in industry and politics.  Don't imagine for a moment that they write their own speeches or form their own vision and policies.  They have an army of special advisers and experts who are not publicly feted, but are well recognised by their peers.  Tell your boss how much you enjoyed being involved in this piece of work and ask for more.

The fact that you were invited to the board meeting is recognition in itself of your contribution to the communications strategy.   One day it may be you delivering a presentation to the board, but until then observe and learn as much as you can.

Ros

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