Do you have a co-worker that has been taking advantage of you? Perhaps it started with a plea to help him or her out of a bind by finishing a report that she or he hadn't been able to get to. It seemed harmless at first; after all, you are a team player. However, now this co-worker is frequently pushing things to you and it has really gotten out of hand. You feel stuck and are having trouble saying no. You are now feeling resentful and angry. It is time to do something. It is time to be assertive and stand up for yourself.
Plan a time that you can meet with your co-worker in private. You may want to have a loose plan for what you want to say. For example, "Sue, I know that I have been helping you out a lot lately. I am starting to feel resentful. I feel that you are depending on me too much and taking advantage of my generosity. I need to focus on my work and I won't be able to help you anymore."
Stick to your main message and do not stray from this. If you meet with resistance, simply repeat your message. You don't need to keep coming up with new reasons. If Sue continues to try to take advantage of you, repeat your message - "I am focused on my own work and cannot help you." You do not need to justify yourself. Remember that you have the right to set boundaries and enforce those boundaries.
