Would it be spiteful not to help when you could because you can't stand the person in charge?

You can learn tolerance while helping the others – a win/win situation.

I would think of it as helping the pee wee, not the person I dislike. And yes, they can take the glory but I get to go home knowing I was a bigger person and I actually did something unlike the person taking false praise for work they didn’t do. In the end of it all, whenever they look at me, they know I know what really happened. You can never hide from yourself.

if its no skin off your back + no negative ramifications then just do your best. people will know who did what + whos full of crap! this is a good practice in patience. even better try to see the humor in the situation with people like that. sometimes it can almost be funny.

Yes, it would be spiteful. The reason it would be is because of the reason you wouldn’t.

(” because you can’t stand the person in charge.”)

I’m a firm believer that you should always do good when you can. If you “can” is totally subjective, however. I think it would do better not to help if you knew for instance that you couldn’t keep your mouth shut and would cause a scene of some sort. I have had to refrain at times.

Edit: Also, I wouldn’t help to be in on the “glory.” Helping out with that purpose is pretty much just an ego trip. I think people who try to “hog all the glory” are known for it, and others would know, anyway.

I have been tempted to sooooo many times out of principal or sheer frustration in that person who is leading.
Bottom line is that if you are feeling it, others may be as well. This does not make for as good an output of the team as a whole versus someone leading that can motivate in a much more effective way.
That being said, I however such it up, because that person has the lead (no matter how they got it) and I will make my effort versus not or even worse, sabotage the effort.
The rest of the team knows what you know and more than likely also do not respect the lead.
One thing I have come to find out over the years in these kind of situations is that when I look back on them all, that lead person is usually gone from the organization and not due to a promotion. You will far outlast all those that can’t lead.
On the other hand, if you are an individual contributor on a team, you are there for your skilss and not to lead. This other person is there for there lead skills and in most cases, work is not always about holding hands and singing kumbaya.
Do you best, put the feelings aside, never be petty or sink your capabilities because of others.

Be the bigger person. Arrogance is caused by insecurity. For the sake of the good members on the team, you should set his arrogance aside and do your best to benefit the project. In the end, you’ll be happy with yourself and you’ll make others happy. It’s worth it.

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. And if you can’t go into it without dreading it, don’t go into it. If you can’t go in without an attitude, don’t go in. Sometimes its better to not contribute to the negativity in a situation. If others are feeling it too, it can be a very negative situation regardless of the purpose and not adding to it with your resentment of his attitude might be for the best. If you can overcome your feelings and keep things to yourself and everything else that would mark you as a true adult in this situation, go right ahead and let him do what he does and shoot himself in his own foot.

Sometimes, certain people bring out the worst in you, and it’s just best to stay away unless asked to help because it will make the situation tense for the other volunteers. People can be like water and oil, and if there’s going to be a turf war over who’s way is the right way, that’s counterproductive to the project.

Depending on why I dislike this person, I will do one of three things….that can change before/during the project… I don’t care about who takes credit for my work

1-I will help, and give my opinion on how to improve things
2-I will help…only do what they want me to do/how they want it done…
3-I will not help them at all….

Other people recognize the buffoon for what he is. They’ll also recognize what you do if you step in with good grace and do your part.