“I’ve gone ahead and done some work on your project to help you out”- and if you do nothing….
You’re letting 𝗼𝗻𝗲 “𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹” 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 as the expert in your job – and it’s costing you authority.
When a pattern of “I’ve gone ahead and done this for you” shows up, it’s not just generosity-. 𝗪𝗵𝘆? 𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘆!
It’s an office politics power play that trains your boss to see them as proactive and you as the person who needs picking up.
Over time, you become the assistant to your own role while they look like the safe pair of hands.
Most professionals make the same 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿: they treat it as kindness.
They 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, feel a bit smaller, and work twice as hard, instead of noticing that jealousy is turning into a quiet land‑grab around their remit.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 and firm.
Name the pattern once, then re‑set the frame: “I appreciate you starting this, I’ll take it from here – this sits within my remit.”
That’s you staying collaborative 𝘢𝘯𝘥 signalling you recognise the power play, without needing a big confrontation