Seriously, what just happened?
Sarah puts together a team of four people to work on a group project on the sales team. They are given a deadline to present their information in three weeks. Each team member is assigned a different task to complete. They meet on a weekly basis to discuss their progress and the future goals for the upcoming weeks. Following the completion of their project, they present it to their supervisor when they notice the team lead is taking credit for the entire project. Jan is now presenting each section of the project as her own, leaving out the efforts of the members of the team. The remaining team members are in shock as they notice the presentation is not highlighting all of their efforts.
After the presentation, it is difficult for the team to collect their thoughts about what just occurred. The remaining team members return to their separate offices, wondering what to do. Jan gathers them together to congratulate them on a job well done. She acts as if nothing has happened, everything was presented as discussed in their weekly meetings (when it was not), and acted as if they did not take all the credit for the work.
What do you do about this kind of betrayal?
First acknowledge your feelings, but also keep them under control.
Recognize it is alright to feel emotional
Do not gossip about the betrayal. This can heighten the already emotional situation.
Instead, call a neutral person and vent about it. Possibly someone outside of the company.
Wait one day before addressing the team lead or co-worker.
Focus on the facts
Use “I” statements, for example, “I felt betrayed during the presentation when each of our efforts were overlooked.”
Be concise and clear when presenting your case.
Actively listen to the other person’s perspective before replying to statements.
