One question I get frequently in my coaching and training work is how to successfully confront a colleague or boss without compromising one’s job.

This post on misbehaving.net references a 2004 New York Times article profiling Mary Callahan Erdoes, Chief Executive at JP Morgan Private Bank. Erdoes tells about an event early in her career when a male colleague presented her work as if it were his own. She said,

After several tears over the phone to home in Chicago, I can still hear the words of wisdom from my mom that morning, “Don’t take no bullying from nobody.” They were what put me back on my feet. I walked up to my colleague, composed after a little makeup to cover up the tears, and told him he should never do that to me or anyone else, ever again. From the look on his face, it was the last time he was going to do that. I think that is an important story, because it is typical of what probably happens every day somewhere in the corporate world.

There are lots of ways to confront effectively, even when the other person has hierarchical power over you.

I’m collecting stories of the powerful lessons we’ve learned from the strong women in our lives, particularly mothers and grandmothers. Do you have one? I’d love to hear from you!