Stop Toxic Colleagues Encroaching on Your Project

The first step is to accept it’s happening

Created by author on Medium

In my decades as a Learning and Development specialist, I’ve found the vast majority of my colleagues to be a pleasure to work with. But one or two have been nightmares because they tried to encroach on one or more of my projects.

Why would they do this? Usually, to enhance their standing and to get a high-profile piece of work on their CV.

If, like me, you’ve ever had a toxic colleague who becomes overly familiar with your responsibilities, you know how frustrating it can be.

At first, your coworker may offer help, which you unsuspectingly accept. You may even approach them yourself for a tiny piece of input.

Before you know where you are, your colleague sits on project meetings. When you query why they are involved, they say your boss or project sponsor has invited them to join the project committee.

Later, you discover this isn’t true, and your colleague asked your boss if they could work on the project.

Soon, your coworker assumes the demeanor of the project leader and attempts to take undue credit for any wins.

While you are wondering what the hell happened, your toxic colleague is arranging to drop by the…