The Volunteer (Asian, women, love, calling)

[Oildog]

What is a good way to deal with a colleague who volunteers for many tasks but only completes a few. I have had private discussions with the person asking if they have time to complete their other tasks before adding to the plate. I find myself angry when this group representative continually calls shortly before a meeting/presentation saying they will be unavailable, so they send me the info instead. I would like to assign the task to another person, but this person represents a worksite.

This may not be the right forum, but it is a professional relationship. Mods may move me since its not about someone calling me or things asian women like.

[Antlered Chamataka]

When it comes to yearly appraisal, the volunteer gets 5

[STT Resident]

Don't ask for volunteers in a group setting and that will prevent him from putting up his hand when nobody else does. You could also present each member of the group with a list at the meeting noting things which need to be done and asking each member to check off which items they would be able to deal with. When you get the lists returned to you you can pick who you want to complete the tasks. Good luck!

[Oildog]

Unfortunately, the people are technical representatives of a certain site or department and I do not have direct authority over them. As the corporate whell grinds for information I mention things that will need to get done. I guess I will need to assign them before the meeting in order to prevent this 'volunteer' from offering their 'services'. Tough sell is that many coporate information requests are perceived as time wasting tasks and no one is excited to do it...but someone higher up wants the information. I don't like going over peoples heads, but I'm thinking that may be the next step.

[Tzaphkiel]

i'd say let the person clean up their own messes, and take the natural consequences for their own actions. If they take on too much and can't finish it, let them flail and answer for missed deadlines.

if it is a "group" situation where it impacts you, or others, and not just the individual, then make sure that your supervisor knows your concern so you're not taking the fall or the blame for someone else's poor work choices or inability to manage the time. Keep track from start to finish of choices made along the way, the people involved, and the outcomes, positive and negative, sort of a this-works-and-this-doesn't as a way of assessing a process, rather than going on a criticism spree of an individual person

in other words, discuss it and present as a concern about how work flow and productivity and deadlines are effected; and don't make it sound like you're complaining about a person. It will be clear where the problem is, traced to the person, but you are presenting it in a professional matter rather than just attacking someone.

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by Oildog

This may not be the right forum, but it is a professional relationship. Mods may move me since its not about someone calling me or things asian women like.

LOL i get that all the time, yes it is about relationships, so it belongs here. We interact with other people in many places and situation including the work place. i love putting posts in this forum and saying how they relate to relationships

[M3 Mitch]

Maybe have a talk with them and try to figure out what the underlying problem is, maybe track the assignments on your computer using one or another type of scheduling software, this would let you keep reminding this person what they have on their plate, and when it's due.

You could look at this as an opportunity to mentor the "volunteer" in time management, prioritization, follow-through, if they sincerely want to be useful, if you can get them to follow through, you might have a good worker on your hands, and make sure your boss sees what you did here.

On the other hand sometimes this type of person is just a knucklehead, and there is not much you can do to "fix" their lack of follow-through.

Thanks for posting this, it's a more interesting topic than some that get posted in this forum, if you get my drift...

[Naomi Manischewitz]

does your coworker volunteer and really think they can finish all the tasks they volunteer for? if so, yeah i could see it being difficult saying something. maybe some of you could say that you would like to volunteer as well and split up the tasks?

i loled at your last sentence about what asian women like