How to deal with a colleague who thinks she does everything

[Lightsareonnobodyshome]

I am struggling with a colleague who seems to think she is the only person in the team that can do anything, and I feel constantly trampled on, and that I have no role or purpose within the team. Every idea or process I put together even when it does not encompass her remit, she always makes a play for by saying I can check that with xyz. I don't know whether it is self importance or what but it is so frustrating, and I get so upset by it. After an incident last week I tried explaining it by email and was very careful to not be pointing the finger, but explained the importance of empowering the team etc (I did make our boss aware just to cover myself) but it just doesn't seem to go in at all. Some of the task she tasks on I would say aren't necessarily in her remit and some below her paygrade. Does anyone have any strategies for dealing with this type of thing..?

So you are at the same level but they think they are the main player in the team?

What this time has reinforced with me is that everyone thinks they are indispensable and are working harder than anyone else. Someone who reports to me thinks they are easy busy when I know they are just answering and forwarding emails!!

I had one of those years ago.

I took to saying “no thanks, I’ll follow it up myself”.

If they still tried to push in, I’d go with “I don’t need any help with my idea for this, thanks anyway” and then if you need to you can escalate to “I’m happy with this project as it was my idea so I will see it through, I definitely don’t need any help with this”.

After that you can only speak to your boss really.

I used to blind copy the senior manager on my emails to line manager who tried to pass my work off as hers. He soon got the measure of her.