Ask Dali Mama

DEAR DALI MAMA:

How do I deal with this older woman that’s always trying to give me advice? She tries to give me advice on fashion, makeup, dating, buying a house, and everything and anything else. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a 32-year-old woman, but I think 32 is old enough that she wouldn’t feel she has to tell me how to do everything. She’s not even my boss. She’s a co-worker in my department. How do I handle this?

–Annoyed (Corporate America)

DEAR ANNOYED:

Perhaps next time she offers advice, you can smile and tell her you thank you but you’ve got everything covered.

You might also want to notice if you’re not owning your knowledge and information and authority in some way. Sometimes, especially if you’re generally a mellow or low-key person, you might not convey how much you know or how much you’ve got it together because you already know you do. When you’re really embodying your power and your authority, it’s much more difficult for people, however well-meaning, to presume to tell you how to do anything you already know.

Own it!