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Dear Quota Team,

I sell HR software and joined my company about six months ago. Since then, one of the senior reps has unofficially taken me under his wing. At first, I appreciated it — he offered tips, introduced me to a few prospects, and checked in after my first demos. But lately, it’s starting to feel less like mentorship and more like babysitting.

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He constantly drops into my DMs with “advice” I didn’t ask for, volunteers to “sit in” on my calls, and tells people on the team he’s “helping me find my voice.” My manager thinks it’s great that I’m getting coached, but I’m starting to feel smothered and patronized.

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How do I set boundaries without making it awkward or looking ungrateful?

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Micromanaged in Location Withheld 

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Dear Micromanaged,

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You don’t need confrontation here — just a reset. Acknowledge his good intentions so the tone stays friendly, then start creating more distance in how you work. Keep conversations focused on your own progress rather than his input, and disengage politely when he oversteps. If the pattern continues, mention to your manager that you’re trying to take greater ownership of your process. The goal is to reestablish independence without causing friction, and to remind everyone — yourself included — that mentorship only works when it’s mutual, not one-sided. Good luck!