How to stop fulfilling other people's responsibilities

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And, probably, you begin to understand the meaning of this phrase with particular clarity when, out of the kindness of your soul, you offer to help your colleague with the performance of his duties, and then you yourself do not notice how this colleague is already climbing on your fragile neck and preparing to dangle his legs. In general, this is a rather risky undertaking - to take on the solution of other people's problems and do it regularly.

However, it is not at all necessary to voluntarily agree to the performance of other people's duties, sometimes they fall on our heads regardless of our desire. It is enough just to quit one of the colleagues, and the management will immediately offer to save the company from "collapse" - to temporarily work for a person who has not yet been found for an empty position. But it also happens in another way: guided by the installation "if you want it to be done well, do it yourself", we did someone else's work a couple of times, instead of explaining to the person what his mistake was. As a result, part of the responsibilities of the erring person imperceptibly becomes ours, and no one even thinks to pay extra for the work.

How to behave in a similar situation? Some will just give up and continue to load too heavy a burden on their shoulders, complaining about the lack of time for communication with family and rest. And others will think - should they do something that does not belong to the scope of their duties at all? And if not, how to get rid of unnecessary things? If you are determined to put your spoiled colleagues and bosses in their place, then our advice will help you.

Think Before Offering Help

Kindness is an excellent quality, but many do not appreciate it and believe that you can “ride” a kind person, ask him for any services and never stumble upon a refusal. That is why it pays to be kind in moderation, especially with colleagues at work. If you see that one of them is tossing, tearing his hair out and complaining that he catastrophically does not have time to fulfill this or that order of the chief, then think ten times before offering your help.

Firstly, the initiative is punishable, and your great desire to help (after all, no one even asked you about it) will be regarded as a green light of a traffic light - now you can be loaded like a draft horse. Secondly, it will be much more difficult to refuse a colleague's request next time - being sure that such "charity" makes you happy, he will be extremely surprised why you suddenly ignore his suffering. Some may even take offense at you for your callousness.

Stand your ground

If there are more other people's responsibilities than those prescribed in your job description, and it now takes almost the whole day to complete them, and there is no question of raising wages, then it's time to seriously talk with your superiors. Only the chief can solve such a problem, but you should understand that without your initiative, no one will think to change anything. Therefore, go to the manager and, after describing the current situation, ask either to release you from unnecessary work, or to raise your salary.

Of course, the boss can take such a statement as an ultimatum and, angry, refuse both the first and the second solution to the problem. In this case, you just have to write a letter of resignation. That is why it is worth going to the boss's office only if, in case of failure, you are ready to say goodbye to exhausting work.

Negotiate terms

If you have to combine your own and others' responsibilities due to the fact that they are only looking for a person for a second position, then do not forget to agree in advance with your superiors the terms of work as a “double agent” and the amount of additional payment for your “exploits”. Thus, you will let the boss know that you will never pull an extra burden on yourself forever. If the boss avoids the answer and invites you to “work for now, and then we'll see,” then explain to him that your strengths are not limitless and sooner or later you will no longer be enough for everything at once, so it will be better if a new employee is found as soon as possible …

Cheat

If spoiled colleagues and bosses do not want to understand you and regularly ask you to do someone else's work, then you will have to sacrifice principles and play a performance of one actor. Step on the throat of your own diligence and simply put aside the assignments that do not directly concern you. Do your duties all day, and closer to the end, when the fancier dangling his legs asks if everything is done, pretend to be very tired and say: “Sorry, I didn't have time. So many things to do, so many calls! Like a squirrel in a wheel!"

The next day, repeat the scenario, and on the third day, consolidate the result. You will see that such a situation will not suit a colleague, and he will decide to either find a new victim, or do everything on his own. By the way, if you simply cannot ignore the request, then complete the task entrusted to you with errors. In the end, although you are a specialist, but only in your field, you should not know the nuances of someone else's work.