How to handle work colleague?

[Aslanthegreat]

So I work closely with a colleague at work and have to do a lot of work together which is fine. We recently had a bit of a spat over a disagreement regarding our work and she ran out crying and told management I was bullying her (definitely not bullying her!) but anyway we moved on from that and SHE apologised for being dramatic. Anyway, something has been grinding at me recently and don’t know not to approach it. Someone will walk in the room and say “Aslan, where did you book your summer holiday for this hear” and my colleague will answer the question for me. She speaks over me constantly and always answered questions directed at me. Maybe it’s petty for it to bother me but I don’t whether to say something to her? I’m more worried she’ll accuse me of bullying her again!

this year not hear

Sounds exactly the same situation as me. I haven’t said anything yet but no doubt I will erupt one day soon

I'd ignore her.

Or, if you do have to say something - say something like:

"I dont recall be a ventroliquist, I can speak and answer without someone else doing it for me."

And if that doesnt work, then just remain silent and let her look like a fucking idiot.

Well, I probably would tell her as little as possible so that she can't answer for you. It sounds like you're starting to get on each others nerves, is this arrangement a permanent one or just for certain projects?

‘Wow I managed to say that without moving my lips!’

So you were a ventriloquist in a previous life I see, and just laugh. Once you say it two or three times it should shut her up. Either that or other people will realise how ridiculous she is being and pick her up on it.

yeh, that situation is not one that you need to carefully manage!
It'll be so obvious that she is answering for you which is her odd behavior.

Tell her nothing and she won't be able to answer questions for you?

I have someone who always buts in when I talk, and answers questions directed at me. Wiser people realise and after she's answered, then back to me, she's not embarrassed about it (yet!)

I honestly tell her the bare minimum about my life but we work in a department with 20 odd people so we do all chat. I wouldn’t say I don’t like her but I find the way she acts very strange. Someone told me I’d left my handbag out in the staff room on Friday and she answered “ok” that one did make me laugh

I’m hoping other people are noticing and it’s really just making her look a fool!

You have a few ways to tackle this.
You can either repeat what you did the last time and run the risk of her saying you're bullying her (you're not). You can carry on as normal and do what other people have suggested already like "Wow, I said that without even moving my lips" kind of thing or there is another way.
Start making things up to tell her.
For example "Where are you going on holidays?"
Answer "Iraq" or some equally unlikely holiday destination.
Then if someone asks and she answers for you, you laugh and say "Goodness, who would want to holiday there!" and then answer them with the correct answer.
It would work for work situations too I'd imagine.

Turn and ssy to her "sorry I'm pretty sure actually it's me that'd called XXX. I think your name is YYY" in a 😀😅 kind of way

Just answer the question yourself, ideally without looking at or acknowledging her. If that means taking when she dies, so be it. Fairly quickly it'll become very weird that two people are talking at once and hopefully, not allowing her conversation space to give her answer will put her off.

When she does! I'm not advocating any drastic measures, OP!

I’m going to listen out on Monday and see if she does it to anyone else. She might just be a busy body!

Someone told me I’d left my handbag out in the staff room on Friday and she answered “ok” grin that one did make me laugh

That is very odd! I would just let her speak, look at her, bit of silence 'I am capable of speaking for myself but thank you'

It’s very strange behaviour. I’m genuinely worried she will complain about me, what we had the spat about was something so small so It wouldn’t surprise me! Oh well, I’ll just have to see how things go.

Imagine a client had told us they preferred to be contacted by text rather than email as a lot of the time they don’t pick up emails. My colleague kept sending emails so I mentioned a few times to text instead and she carried on to email so In the end I had to say it’s really unprofessional and is making us both look bad. (Not exactly the case but along the same lines) this is what she complained about me for and said I’m bullying her.

Gosh she sounds very tricky. Normally I would just say to keep her at arm's length but very tricky to do that if you're working closely with someone

@Quirrelsotherface

It’s really different and I must admit we usually work really well together. I’ve tried to ignore her ways and just get on with it but its so tiring and draining.

I would just turn round and say "Ignore her, you are speaking to me".

@Aslanthegreat actually people like that can be difficult to navigate as they can play the victim at the littlest thing. Next time she answers for you you could say something like 'um no, and give a different answer (you might need to use your imagination). If you do that often enough she'll end up looking like a fool.