It often starts with one simple sentence: “I’ll do it. It’s quicker that way.”
At work, it’s easy to become the person everyone turns to when something goes wrong. We correct other people’s mistakes, remind them of deadlines, take on additional tasks, and find solutions when others don’t know how to move forward. At first, we may even enjoy it. We feel useful, capable, and satisfied knowing that people can count on us.
However, what begins as occasional help can gradually become an expectation. Colleagues make less and less effort to find solutions on their own, while we increasingly take care of things that aren’t our responsibility. And so, almost without noticing, our workload continues to grow while others take on less and less responsibility.
Our bodies often feel the weight of this burden before we admit to ourselves just how tired we are. Another message arrives, or another request comes in, and we already feel tension in our shoulders, tightness in our stomach, or the need to take a deep breath. We may find ourselves thinking, “Why me again?” Yet, almost automatically, we reply, “Of course, no problem.”
Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t the additional work itself, but the thought of disappointing someone if we say we can’t do it.
This is particularly important for leaders. When they constantly solve problems for their teams, they may make things easier for everyone in the short term. In the long run, however, they risk creating a team that becomes increasingly dependent on them and less likely to take initiative. It’s important to remember that a leader who tries to be available to everyone often ends up with too little time and energy for what is actually their responsibility.
Setting boundaries doesn’t mean we stop helping others. Sometimes, all it takes is a moment to pause before automatically saying “yes” and ask ourselves whether something is truly our responsibility. We can support someone, help them find a solution, and encourage them to take ownership of their part of the work without having to do everything for them.
After all, the point isn’t to prove how much we can carry. It’s also about recognising the cost of constantly carrying what isn’t ours.
What about you? What are you still taking on simply because others have become used to you doing it?
