what to do if your boss asks you to do something outside your job description

Ane of the stickiest situations at piece of work relates to boundary setting when it comes to collaboration.

You're already swamped with your own to-practice list, and as more than and more responsibilities go tacked on to your daily routine, your productivity shrinks away.

It'southward a tough state of affairs considering y'all want to serve your colleagues and clients to the best of your ability, only it might be interfering with your healthy work-life balance.

When you realize information technology'south fourth dimension to set boundaries at work, information technology can be hard to get started—where exercise you lot draw the line between unreasonable requests and actress tasks that could help your career in the long run? In this cursory web log, we will give you real-earth scenarios and actionable tips and then you can learn to set up expectations and professional boundaries in a friendly only firm way.

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Is information technology wrong to say "that is non my job"?

Some worry that saying "that is non my job" will come across as likewise rigid or that information technology presents an anti-team mentality.

The site Enquire a Manager says this:

"Refusing to practice a item task because information technology'southward not in your job description is a skillful fashion to lose the back up of your boss. Task descriptions aren't comprehensive, and most people end upwardly doing piece of work that doesn't fall squarely within their job clarification. Insisting on sticking rigidly to your chore and nothing but your job ordinarily doesn't end well. But there are times when it'due south appropriate — and in fact necessary — to communicate that you aren't the right person to practise something."

And then the short answer is:Information technology depends. Established boundaries are good for you at work (every bit within whatever type of relationship in life) and aid you lot stay focused on your tasks and responsibilities.

Keep in mind that in these situations it's important to communicatewhy you tin't help with an ask and explain the reasoning behind your refuse to help. Clarity is key.

Adjacent, let'due south wait at a few unlike situations and how you might answer to them.

Consider the situation and respond accordingly

So how do you sort through these situations and decide when you should say, "That is not my chore"? Let's wait at a few dissimilar scenarios and meet how you could respond appropriately and professionally.

State of affairs #one: A coworker is trying to dump his/her responsibleness on someone else because they just don't want to do it

Say a coworker asks you lot to put together a report on work emails for an upcoming meeting. The field of study thing falls within that person's purview, so it'south something they should exist taking care of (but maybe they but don't want to do information technology.) Your coworker positions it as a small ask that won't eat upwards too many of your function hours.

What do you do?

In an instance like this one, it'south okay to simply say no. Explain what you're working on and why you lot don't take the bandwidth for additional work, and exist kind but firm. Stand your footing and be firm in your boundaries–it's likely they'll respect y'all more for it and they will encounter you are paying attending to priorities.

Be honest virtually your availability and what you realistically tin can have on. Say something like, "I don't take the bandwidth to do a proficient chore on this correct at present and give yous the assist/attention this deserves."

Situation #2: A manager is trying to give yous more responsibility

Imagine that your manager asks you to take on a new project at piece of work. It'southward an opportunity for you to lead the charge on an important job, only it also entails quite a bit of work on your part. It could be a good challenge that allows yous to prove yourself worthy of advancement–or it might simply be more than piece of work.

What do you do?

Thank your managing director for the opportunity and lean in.What initially seems like "actress work" might exist an excellent opportunity for advocacy inside your job with a slight perspective shift. Kickoff a conversation around the potential opportunities to come across if you lot can apply this as a hazard to grow inside your part or to incentivize the extra piece of work required.

However, if it is but more work with no benefit offered to you (similar a pay increase, title alter, or time off), this might also exist the path to resentment at work.

If it's just not realistic for you to handle it with your current workload, explain the dilemma and ask for your boss'due south insight on what y'all should do. You might answer with something like, "I've got to focus on 10 right now because of [impending deadline, project requirements, etc.], so I won't be able to realistically assist you with Y unless we can offload a few other tasks."

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Situation #three: A coworker is in need of full general aid

What if a coworker comes to you lot with a 18-carat, reasonable request? Say they desire you lot to weigh in with your perspective on a study or they want aid presenting at an upcoming meeting. It'due south not an outlandish request, and you do have something yous can bring to the tabular array that would add value–but information technology will require some fourth dimension on your part.

What do you exercise?

If y'all can reasonably help your coworker with the task, go for it. Don't exist agape to lend a helping hand when it makes sense, as these are moments in which y'all can strengthen rapport and camaraderie with your coworkers.

However, if the request extends beyond your bandwidth or area of expertise, you can always refer your coworker to the appropriate person and so he or she can notice the correct, about appropriate person who tin can help. You could say, "That's not actually my area of expertise, simply I retrieve [X person] handles that."

State of affairs #4: You lot work in a hectic organization in which it'southward simply non clear who does what.

Maybe you piece of work in a chaotic environment where there'due south a real lack of organizational structure and function boundaries. Everyone wears a lot of different hats, then the parameters around what's technically "your job" are fuzzy. When random requests and outlandish asks come up, y'all feel paralyzed and out of control within your position–and you feel similar y'all always have to say yes.

What practise y'all practice?

If this is your reality, it's probably time for you to accept a talk with your direct supervisor and ask for clarity and/or a documented chore description that outlines what'due south expected of you, what you're responsible for, etc.

Emphasize during the conversation that yous want to grow inside the role, but that you need management and clarity nearly what your job really is in gild to follow that path. Y'all may explain that a current lack of clarity has you feeling a flake unfocused, and that you want to fix that. This will assist ensure yous stay focused on the correct tasks, tin can establish benchmarks for your professional progress, and adds clarity around your day-to-24-hour interval work.

The secret to having these conversations go well is to be sincere and to come from a place of understanding and shared rapport rather than anger, frustration, or annoyance. Your message will exist better received if it's genuine and non laced with emotions that can spur conflict.

That's not my job: Iv words and a single thought that could improve your piece of work life

By learning unlike ways to respectfully say "that'south not my job", your workday can have meliorate productivity and an optimal workflow (which your team will ultimately appreciate.)

Bottom line: If you tin can evaluate situations and reply in an appropriate, professional manner, you lot'll regain that feeling of command over your workday (and likely boost your happiness at work, as well.)

A daily chore director template tin can assist to make your work clear to others and create clear boundaries.

Try using it out and share it with your colleagues.

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Source: https://monday.com/blog/teamwork/how-to-nicely-say-that-is-not-my-job-and-create-better-boundaries-at-work/