Dear Annie: I’ve been at my job for a little over a year now, and overall, I enjoy the work and my team. But I’m struggling with how to handle a co-worker we’ll call “Matt.”

Matt constantly interrupts people during meetings, restates others’ ideas as if they’re his own and has a way of dominating every conversation. It’s not just annoying; it’s starting to affect group morale.

A few of us have tried gently pushing back when he talks over us, but it doesn’t seem to register. He’s also very quick to get defensive, which makes any direct confrontation feel like a risk. I’ve spoken to my supervisor once, who acknowledged it was a pattern but didn’t take any clear action.

I don’t want to be the office complainer, but I also don’t want to keep working in a space where one person dominates everything. How do I address this without making things worse or putting a target on my back? — Tired of Being Talked Over

Dear Tired of Being Talked Over: Since you’ve already tried direct confrontation, subtle social cues and even bringing in the higher-ups, your best bet is to avoid working with him as much as possible. It’s not a perfect solution, but, in the absence of hunting for a new job, it’s one of the only ones you have left.

If that’s simply not an option, then follow up with your supervisor, this time with concrete examples of how Matt’s behavior is impacting the team. Hopefully a thoughtful and respectful reminder will be enough for management to take some action.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].