Most professionals underestimate how much damage one “let me tell you what best practice is” colleague can do to their reputation.
When a co-worker keeps “educating” you in front of others, they’re not just being supportive – they’re running a slow power play that casts you as the one who never quite knows what you’re doing. It sounds generous, but it steadily moves the expert badge onto their chest.
Being overly polite in that moment is the real risk. You smile, nod, let them talk, and each time your status drops a notch in the room.
Instead of freezing, use a short, steady redirect: “That’s one option, yes – here’s why we’ve been doing it this way in marketing…” You acknowledge their point, but you also anchor your own judgement and keep your authority where it belongs.