Are you one of those people who can’t say no? Are you the helpful person when you see a lot of other people selfish with their time? Do you sometimes wonder why you’re always stuck doing things and “being helpful” when others are off doing things they love to do?
Then maybe you are over-over-delivering!
In being part of a professional service there is such a thing as doing too much for your boss, your clients or anyone who just asks you.
The problem is you deliver so much that people come to think of you as the “go to” person. In a normal sense that is great. It’s good to be needed and it’s a great feeling to be able to support others with what you do. But there is a line where Super Service Provider runs into the phone booth and turns into the mild mannered Door Mat.
I’ve been in this situation and I know others who have been as well. I know this because a while ago I decided that my default answer would turn from “Yes, sure” to “Um, not right now” or even, “No, sorry!” And the reaction was priceless.
I wasn’t wanting to be mean or rude but the people who would ask me for favours were quite taken aback with my “non-cooperative” response. It was like they knew that if they asked they knew I would help. When I didn’t, they were a little miffed. I had to hold my ground and I could see I had disappointed them. I didn’t explain myself, what they were asking was outside my brief (key point). And, to be honest, I didn’t want to have the time to help. Other items were demanding my time.
Priorities
It comes down to priorities and what you are at work to do – to accomplish the tasks assigned to you within the brief of your job.
It fine to go outside that brief every now and again to help others. But when it gets to “doormat” stage, you have gone too far.
If you are a service professional (physio, podiatrist etc) this can be seen in terms of giving services away for free or for a greatly reduced fee. It means you may not really value what you do and you are setting a precedent with a client (and possibly a reputation in the market) as a pushover.
If you are an admin person, it may mean that while the professionals are leaving with a cheery wave, you still have 30+ minutes before you go home, doing work they are supposed to have done or finishing your own work because you were “helpful” during the day.
At first you see it as helping out, but in the end, you are doing work you are simply not paid to do. In the long term, you become resentful.
Stick to your brief
The key is sticking to your brief and doing it professionally.
- If you are a professional, charge for what you do, be very careful with what you give away. A small favour one day may turn into a loss situation with supplies (e.g. tape etc) later on.
- Know what you can give away or reduce the fee on … and stick to it. A great personal manner will override any concerns of fees (unless of course you are charging double the market rate!)
If you are in a support role, always be helpful but don’t do for your boss what they should be doing themselves, not always easy but the point above applies to support staff as well “A great personal manner will override any concerns.”
Learn to say “no” a little more often to the right things and you’ll find the respect for you and you role (Professional or Support) will grow. Relationships at work will improve and the atmosphere within the building will be on a far higher level.
Deliver what is needed.
