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A glimpse of the thinking that shapes boardrooms
When Your Colleague Won't Stay in Their Lane
In the best organizations, collaboration is encouraged, and leaders are expected to think beyond their turf. But there's a difference between that and a colleague who constantly weighs in on work that isn't theirs or peppers you with unsolicited opinions. What should you do about a colleague who keeps overstepping?
Three shifts to put into practice
Principle 01
Read the situation.
Most meddling comes from insecurity, misunderstanding, good intentions, or even ignorance, not malice. And it's usually situational. You may also be inadvertently inviting the behavior: phrasing decisions as questions or leaving too much room for interpretation. Do some self-reflection and run the situation by a trusted sounding board.
Principle 02
Hear them out.
If the problem really is them, raise the issue privately, with honesty and empathy. Ask why they feel the need to step in and keep digging until you understand their perspective. Don't try to fix things or tell them they're wrong. Instead, find the 10% of what they're saying that you agree with, and acknowledge it with a specific, sincere response.
Principle 03
Stay ready.
Have some go-to responses for when a colleague butts in, particularly during a meeting. Assert your authority respectfully by saying that it's clear they have a lot of thoughts on this and you want to hear them, but for now you need to put a pin in it and move to the next item.
Most meddling comes from insecurity or good intentions, not malice. HBR Management Insight
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