Related Posts
Have you ever yelled at your coworker in public?
More Posts
Anyone from Capability Network - T&O?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Have you ever yelled at your coworker in public?
Anyone from Capability Network - T&O?
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Download the Fishbowl app to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Copy and paste embed code on your site

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

If they’re trying to explain things and make it look like you didn’t know what you were doing:
“I feel confident in my current process and I appreciate your attempt to help. It’s nice to know I have a resource should I need it.”
If they’re trying to assign you tasks:
“Thank you for waiting to give this to me until (manager’s name) is close enough to hear. I feel confident in how I’ve prioritized my current to-do list, but I’ll connect with (manager) and see if this is something they’d like me to pursue beyond initiative I’m already taking.”
Personally, I think the first step is to discuss with the individual directly. Perhaps approach it from the perspective of how it makes you feel so it's not viewed as an attack.
It's important that you try and resolve on your own before you connect with your manager to request support.
I'd probably ask your manager about it. Something like this? "I've noticed that [coworker] sometimes tries to assign me tasks or explain things to me in a way that I wouldn't really expect from a peer. How would you like me to handle it when she does this and it might conflict with priorities or instructions you've already given me? Can I assume I should always just let her know I've heard otherwise from you?"
If your manager says yes, you just politely interrupt the coworker and say "I already have instructions from [manager] on this."
If for some reason your manager says it depends on the context or anything similar, you can at least say "I'd need to check with [manager]" and that sort of reinforces that she's not your boss.
Is there an org chart ? Why does she think k she can boss you around? You should make abundantly clear her responsibilities are NOT anything you related to yours.