Many women workers will know the feeling: an idea they put forward in a meeting that was barely acknowledged is later floated as an initiative from a manager or colleague.
鈥淚t is bad enough too many of our women members are talked over in meetings and don鈥檛 have their ideas taken seriously,鈥 said PSA/CPSU NSW Women鈥檚 Council Chair Leanne Smith, who has experienced 鈥渋dea theft鈥 several times throughout her career.
鈥淚t is even worse when a colleague later puts forward the idea themselves.
鈥淭oo many women are conditioned to keep quiet, which leaves them vulnerable to being usurped by other members of staff.鈥
Research by Cornell University in the United States estimates nearly 30 per cent of all workers 鈥渞eport having had an idea stolen by a colleague, at least once鈥.
鈥淭he problem with this is that your future prospects for promotion may be at risk if your ideas are hijacked by another person you work with,鈥 said Ms Smith.
Solutions to 鈥榠dea theft鈥 include speaking up as soon as possible to claim the idea as yours.
Writing in Forbes magazine, business consultant Caroline Turner recommended, 鈥淲omen can practise speaking up more; they can learn to interrupt, hold the floor, and speak with greater confidence and power.
鈥淏oth men and women can notice when a women鈥檚 idea doesn鈥檛 get the reaction it deserves. They can endorse the idea and give credit where it is due if another person 鈥榮teals鈥 the idea.
鈥淲e need to be grateful to those men and women who speak up, generate discussion on good ideas presented by women, and recognise the source of the idea.
鈥淭he result is more engaged women 鈥 and more good ideas.鈥