After feeling isolated from cliques in the work place, a colleague whom I adore and get along with amazingly has started to include me in a small group, doing things outside of work. I am so happy about this. The only issue is one of the ladies is so dominant and overpowering that it kind of takes away some of the joy. She is a nice person but her energy is very overpowering to me. I’m not needing advice as to whether to stay away from her or not as I can make that decision. I am wondering how you have dealt with an overbearing personality in your friendship/work/family? Do you just shut up and let them take over everything? I especially have difficulty with her taking over conversations. Everyone should be allowed to speak. Any coping mechanisms or strategies Would be greatly appreciated.
4 Replies
I am more a quieter person who would just let her be most of time. And in some instances, id just keep talking over her if she tried to talk over me or say "hang on" and then finish what i was saying.
There is always a polite way to navigate it without getting too nasty about it.
For the most part though, id just let it be. And id try and instigate smaller conversations with the other people in the group more often.
Get to know her. Really get the know her.
This is so tricky. I can be this person but I can also be the person who is shy and retiring. People often aren’t aware they do it (I usually go home and overthink everything)... but it doesn’t come from malice. For me it’s
Often when I’m most insecure. So maybe look for clues. It’s really hard to be direct about it without seeming offensive or confrontational.
I can be this person. I also leave feeling horrible and over think how over the top I have been. I act like this when I’m at my most insecure. I don’t mean it, It’s just the way I act when I feel out of place or uncomfortable