Some times I could screen with fustration. I have been at my current job now for over 7 months and I feel like I no how to do my job pretty well now. However my work colleague who I work with acts although she is my boss. OK she has been here for a whole year longer than me, but does that give her the right to give me tasks to do? If she were to ask me to do a favour for her, I would happily do it, but I have a problem with being told what to do. Now that our real boss is on holiday- she sees this as an even bigger opportunity.
Am I being silly?
2007-07-20 04:09:44 · 9 answers · asked by emmi 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
no
2007-07-20 04:12:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Could be you just need to firm up your boundaries. There's always something to learn from a colleague, so I tend not to get offended. Also, I see my colleagues as part of my team, so we are all equally flexible when it comes to a helping hand. I will put my foot down when the requests (and they ARE requests) interfere with my own reponsibilities.
You can inquire for more details about the tasks rather than doing them on an ad hoc basis. Tell her you're trying to assess the best use of both your resources, and knowing the background and history behind this task would help. If she is the type to shove things off on you at the last minute, learning more about the time parametes might make her more self-concious of her time management skills.
You could also couch it in terms of cross-training. It is good verbage to help determine the specific roles of each of you and where they intersect. Getting a schedule or a system down will cut down on projects cutting into your own time.
I wouldn't assume she was trying to exert authority over me.
2007-07-20 11:23:06 · answer #2 · answered by Buttercup 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. You are NOT being silly. Unfortunately, there are personality types who will take advantage of the absence of a governing authority to attempt to exert their own brand of "authority". It may be acceptable for the two of you to share SOME tasks in this way -- you perform some of hers if she is willing to do and own responsibility for some of yours. But be certain to explain to her in a matter of fact way that you "cannot be responsible for the outcome of tasks that are normally done by someone with more on -the-job experience, such as those task belonging to her which she is asking you to do." If she refuses to believe you, botch a couple of them and see what her responses may be. If that does not stop her and encourage her to do her own work, tell her you will be busy doing your OWN work for the rest of the day and you will NOT promise the completion of any of the tasks she is asking you to do and don't do any of them. She is not the boss and she cannot fire you or get you fired if you have performed whichever tasks and responsibilities that YOU have been hired to do. If it is merely, the way she is asking you to do things, call her attention to her rudeness or give her a taste of her own brand of behavior on several occasions. Do not let anyone abuse your kindness as "weakness". She will get the message.
2007-07-20 11:45:28 · answer #3 · answered by Jess4rsake 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, it doesn't sound like you're being silly or having a problem with authority. it sounsd like this colleague is on the same level as you, not as a supervisor above you, so she has no right to give you tasks to do. it doesn't sound like you would have a problem doing the same things if 1)your manager had you do them; or 2) your colleague ASKED you to help. you may just want to clarify with your manager exactly what the colleague's role is in relation to this - is she supposed to be telling you what to do? it's a tactful way to bring to the boss's attention that maybe your colleague is getting others to do her work for her, and i think it's a legitimate concern. i wouldn't want to be run over either, and i have approached co-workers saying that i do not expect them to clean up after me, so i will not clean up after them. good luck - i hope your situation improves!
2007-07-20 13:29:53 · answer #4 · answered by SweetPandemonium 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your boss obviously needs to clarify the chain of command in your work place.
However, if you don't feel like taking orders from your co-worker, just make sure you stay busy doing important things. Then, if your co-worker tries to boss you around, you have a perfectly legitimate reason to tell her that you can't do it because you are busy doing something else that needs to be done.
2007-07-20 11:15:50 · answer #5 · answered by Azure Z 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends. Go to your boss and request a schedule and a job description. If anywhere in those two, it details you having to answer to this other girl, then your out of luck. Otherwise, if you rboss gives you a schedule and the other girl tells you to do something else, tell her to pound sand.
2007-07-20 11:13:47 · answer #6 · answered by ark 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can tell her when she tries to assign you tasks that you are very busy with your own work and that you will have no time to do hers as well. Be polite but firm.
2007-07-20 12:22:09 · answer #7 · answered by dawnb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, you are not being silly, sounds to me like she is trying to get a promotion. showing she has management skills, by telling others what to do.
just be carefull, and not so willing to do every thing she says
2007-07-20 11:16:28 · answer #8 · answered by NONAME 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im all for teamwork, but no one other than your boss should be telling you what to do....
2007-07-20 11:17:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋