You didn’t create the either/or dilemma so you don’t have to solve it. Just hand the mess back to the person responsible.
A rival can’t harm you if you’re the picture of cooperation. Agree to what s/he says, but stop short of committing to anything.
A scathing remark leaves you burning, but before responding in kind, ask yourself if you deserve it. You may have been ignoring signals to back off.
Continue coaching from the sidelines and you’ll wind up taking over. Keep mum for a while or people will never figure out the answers for themselves.
Someone’s loss could be your gain but do you want the aggravation that comes with it? Weigh pros and cons carefully before answering.
Don’t be so quick to call in a debt or favor. Give the other party time to come through. They’ll exceed your expectations.
