What to Say to a Lazy Co-worker Who Wont Work - The Muse

What to Say to a Lazy Co-worker Who Wont Work - The MuseWhat to Say to a Lazy Co-worker Who Wont Work You spend each and every workday powering through your own tasks and assignments- which makes it all the more frustrating when you see that one team member of yours repeatedly twiddling their thumbs, detangling their stack of paperclips, and having extended chats by the coffee maker.That person obviously isnt pulling their own weight, and you want to let them know that their constant shirking of responsibilities isnt slipping by unnoticed. But, at the same time, you arent that persons manager and you dont want to overstep by reprimanding or correcting their behavior. So, what do you do? Well, there are some ways that you can nudge that colleague forward- without blatantly calling them out. These three phrases can help. 1. If This Doesnt Get Done, ThenIts easy to become focused solely on the action and forget about the inevitable results. Its why I often find myself scarfing down an e ntire bag of white cheddar popcorn- I conveniently forget about the fact that it always makes me feel sick.Your colleague could be falling into that very same trap. Perhaps theyre only thinking that they cant bear to comb through that spreadsheet and look for trends right now, and are totally overlooking the domino effect that their lack of action sets off. It can be helpful to remind your team member about the negative effects that could result from their slacking- bonus points if those results directly effect them. Consequences are a powerful, powerful thing. What This Looks Like If this presentation doesnt get done by the Friday deadline, then Kate is probably going to make us come in over the weekend to finish it.2. Boss Name Is Expecting Us ToYou know that you dont want to drag your supervisor into this issue right away, but that doesnt mean you cant name drop a little bit to remind your co-worker of the expectations of your manager.Unfortunately, not everybody is a particularl y conscientious worker, and that means that your colleague might not care an ounce about what you think of them or their work ethic. But, Im willing to be they care a lot more about how your babo perceives them. Use this to gently remind your team member that your supervisor is anticipating that youll deliver on what was promised. It kicks the intimidation and sense of urgency up a notch- without you having to be a tattletale. What This Looks Like Jordan is expecting us to have this wrapped up by the end of the day, and I think we can all agree that we dont want to have to break the news that its unfinished.3. Can I Help?I know this seems counterintuitive, but stick with me for a minute. Rather than assuming malicious intent, have you stopped to consider that the reason your colleague isnt making any progredienz could be because theyre stuck, confused, or overwhelmed?Offering to chip in not only reiterates the fact that youre an awesome teammate, but it also lets that person know (i n a kind and subtle way) that youve noticed theyre slacking.Of course, theres a line here. If your co-worker really is just lazy, this shouldnt be an opportunity for them to shift all of their work over to your plate. Theres a difference between being supportive and being a doormat. What This Looks Like Hey, Jim I was just doing some work on our project, and it looks like you havent made any progress in our shared Google Doc. Since that deadline is quickly approaching, I thought Id see if I could clear up any confusion or help out somehow.Lets make one very important thing clear Its definitely not your job to babysit this person and make sure they make it through their own to-do lists. Were all adults, and we should be able to manage our own workloads without constant intervention and encouragement from others. So, if this is something thats becoming an ever-present problem on your team, that warrants a more serious conversation with your higher ups. However, if you just need to giv e a lazy co-worker a nudge to stay focused and productive, these phrases can help you light a fire under them- without overstepping.