Backstabber Report

Credit Stealing Backstabber

A credit stealing backstabber is that seemingly helpful team player who will enthusiastically support your suggestions, follow your directions, and work to make the project a big success – only because they intend to take credit for it.

This will include magnifying their own role in the endeavor, using personal pronouns such as “I” and “me” as substitutes for “we” whenever possible.

This type of backstabber is most often found in the family. You may have planned, coordinated, and made the decorations for a party, but it could be good ‘ol Sis that asks Mom, “Do you like the decorations I put up?” Often followed with another of, “I hope you like the party.”  This statement implies that she is responsible for the entire party and everything associated with it.

Yes, she got out the scotch tape and spent 10 minutes, but fails to mention that you and possibly others made (or bought) items and you put far more effort into the party for Mom, than she did.

This type of backstabber counts on you and others not becoming confrontational and calling them out on their lack of sharing credit.

Aggressiveness needed to confront this type is often detrimental to a family function, which is why this type is most prevalent in the family setting, though they are found in the workplace. However, in the workplace, the credit stealer often takes credit without an audience of their peers – some of whom would be quick to bitch slap the offender verbally.