Urgent! Butt of jokes how to push back!

[ineedtowomanup]

So my colleague and I are going for a client meal today. My colleague always uses me as the butt of the jokes they make. It actually gets a bit awkward for the clients as they can see how uncomfortable it makes me.

These are key clients, people I've known years and have a respectable relationship with.

I know for a fact said colleague will again use me - I can't explain how they do it but they just take this piss out of me a bit to get a laugh and expect me to go along with it.

I just need to shut it down as professionally as possible.

Help!!

Could be tricky because they’ll possibly say it was just banter and you have to woman up etc and other such shit. Anything other than apologies and admit it. It all comes from their insecurity of course. I would just look them dead in the eye, laugh knowingly and say “ I heard you were the school bully in your year and there’s still people plotting your demise - now I can believe it ! Then laugh and say you’ll protect their back if any one tries to take him out from behind - again while laughing.

She’s jealous of or feels threatened by you: another woman with equal seniority.
I’m willing to bet that you’re probably a bit better at the job than she is OP and that rankles, so she has to bring you down a little to cover her own inadequacies.

It’d be difficult and ill advised to react in front of your client, so I’d pull her aside for a quiet chat
“I don’t know if you realise you’re doing this, but… perhaps it’s nerves meeting client?”

You’ll have given her a quick easy apologetic get out so the behaviour stops and she doesn’t kick back. If she continues, then HR all the way!

She’s making herself and the company look bad to your clients, as well as annoying and undermining you.

Before the meeting ask him not to do it, it's that simple. Tell him it makes you feel uncomfortable & it's not professional. If he still does it look him straight in the eye & say very loudly 'REALLY'. Then ask him to explain what he means as you missed the joke. Let him make a tit out of himself but not at your expense.

Love this!!!

Perfect

As soon as she does it you need to respond with a simple ‘let’s keep it professional please!’