When Your Colleague Keeps Meddling in Your Work

In strong organizations, collaboration is encouraged and leaders are expected to think beyond their own lanes. But there is a line between contributing and overstepping. When a colleague repeatedly inserts themselves into work that is not theirs or offers unsolicited direction, it can create friction, erode ownership, and undermine teams. The challenge is figuring out how to rein in the behavior without damaging the relationship or discouraging healthy collaboration. Here’s how to manage your colleague’s behavior, and how to address what’s behind it.