Are You Calling Out a Co-Worker If They Steal Your Idea? 👀

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]You realize your work rival took credit for your idea in a meeting with the CEO.

[00:00:03]Now, do you option A, call them out in front of everyone right then and there, or do you option B, wait until after the meeting to handle it privately, or you know, through HR? Let's bring in a couple roomies to discuss this. Roomie.

[00:00:13]Hey there. How y'all doing?

[00:00:14]>> What do you do in that situation? Do you publicly call out your co-worker? They steal your idea?

[00:00:19]Um yeah, I'm going to pick option one, but I'm going to keep it cute. Um I'm going to make it funny. I'm going to be like, "Remember we were talking about that last week?" You know, I don't want to embarrass myself. You know, I don't want to look unprofessional, but I want to make it clear that that was my idea and you're trying to bring it to the table.

[00:00:33]Mhm. Yep. I agree with her on that. I agree with you, Roomie. Um I think there's a way to bring it up and I think but I think you should address it in that moment because after if you address it after the meeting, the damage has already been done. You know, whoever y'all are trying to impress or whatever leader is in the room has already walked out of the room with the impression that you came up with that idea because I didn't speak up for myself. I've had this happen before and just been quiet about it. Not not anymore. Absolutely not. Let's address it. I want to know more about how you came up with that theory. That's what That's exactly how I'm pulling it out in a meeting. Tell us more about that original thought you came up with. I get that, child, but sometimes in corporate you got to be careful when you do that cuz you don't want to >> Careful letting you steal my idea? Yes, because sometimes you don't want to look like you're not a part of the team. So, it's not about You don't want to come off as the it's about me in the it's about me moment. You know >> But what do you look like when you're stealing people's ideas? Well, that's that's why that's why I'm trying to figure out what that look like. That's why I would take option B.

[00:01:19]>> [laughter] >> That's why I would take option B and be like, "You know, you're wrong." You know what I'm saying? And and figure out a a different way to handle it. Cuz some sometimes it can be your idea, but if it's if it's all for the company, it ain't your company.

[00:01:30]>> It's for everybody. You can I'm just telling you especially as black folk, we can look a certain way, you know what I'm saying, when we do that. So I'm going to tell you as this black person, I'll let you know I I'm full of ideas.

[00:01:41]So, I'm going to let you get it off. I'm going to let you get it off, but in private, you're going to know not to ever do that again.

[00:01:46]Ever. You'll never do that again. I'm like, "Hey, man, you do that again, we're going to have a real problem outside of work. It's going to require HR help." Mhm. So, you're going to threaten them politely after the meeting?

[00:01:55]>> politely. Or like if I know some dirt on them, or if I know Oh, you going to blackmail.

[00:01:59]>> [laughter] >> Or if you Or like you know if you so you can't really get can't do that to a woman. I was going to like, "Look, I know things about you.

[00:02:05]>> [laughter] >> I'm going to tell people if you steal my steal my idea." I'd rather you just call me out to meet if you going to blackmail [laughter] me, BEAT ME UP. YOU'RE DOING A LOT. YEAH, I'm going to say, "I know things about you."

[00:02:16]>> [laughter] >> I know I know you GOT LITTLE HAT.

[00:02:19]OH MY GOD. I KNOW WHERE YOU GET YOUR HAT FROM.