Colleagues in other units keep asking for support in doing their jobs.

Colleagues in other units keep asking for support in doing their jobs.

My organisation prioritises cross-collaboration and visibility, so there is a big emphasis on working with others and supporting them even when it falls outside your purview. Recently, I noticed colleagues from other units always ask for support anytime they have a task or an event, no matter how mundane the task may be. It gives the impression they don't want to do their own jobs themselves and I have my own job to do. When you push back often, you earn the reputation of being non-collaborative and working in a silo.

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3 Comments

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  1. Anonymous

    I wonder if you could explain that you need to align your priorities with your manager before taking on additional tasks. Then make sure your manager knows and can weigh in on whether this new ask fits on your plate

    or not.

    This way Your manager has visibility. Your job is to be an arm of your manager and help him/her achieve his/her goals.

    Good luck OP ?

  2. Anonymous

    I agree with what Anonymous said below, but I will add that if your manager decides that collaboration is a higher priority than the tasks you are currently assigned, it means that what you are working on may not be as crucial to the business as the others. So, it is essential to keep your manager engaged in prioritizing tasks, and they know how helping others will affect your timelines.

  3. Taylor Acton

    Are you also asking for their help on some things? Perhaps you start there and see how the relationship may evolve. There is a concept called the law of reciprocity that helps build bridges and teaches people/teams how to work together.

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