Listen Now: Not So Helpful

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Turns out there is such a thing as being too helpful. I’m Brian Banmiller on Business.

According to FastCompany.com helping other people at work could be hurting your own career. People who have been at the company longer are leaned on by anyone newly hired or who needs to be trained. People who are very good at their job can be asked to carry more work or help others which pulls them away from their own tasks. According to the management consulting company, collaborative work takes up 42% of the average worker’s time. That includes things such as email, instant messages and phone calls. Basically, times when people are taking your attention from your work in order to help them. So how do you stop it? Consider blocking off time on your calendar for your work so people can see it and respect it. Avoid responding to non-urgent messages during that time as well. For more ways to protect your own job and why collaboration can burn you out, go to BanmillerOnBusiness.com. And maybe learn to say no. Brian Banmiller, CBS News.

About Brian

CBS News Radio national business journalist Brian Banmiller has spent more than 40 years in the news industry, covering business, politics and the economy on television, radio and in print. Currently, his “Banmiller on Business” reports are delivered to an audience of millions nationwide.