When a

Colleague's
Mistakes Affect you
 Introduction

 In an attempt to function
in this increasingly
complex world,
organizations are
becoming increasingly
complex themselves.
 Important
They are built on
collaborative partnerships
which means more and
more of your work
depends on the work of
someone else.
 When a colleague is
making mistakes, this
interconnectedness can
feel like a major pitfall.
 Important Question

 So what do you
do when a
colleague is not
doing his/her part
and it's affecting
your work?
 What the Experts say
 The type of mistakes you might
be affected by vary greatly:
 A colleague may miss
deadlines,
 not produce the work
required,
 make errors in calculations
or even provide you with
misinformation.
 Diagnose the Issue
 The first step is to
understand what's really
going on.
 Try to determine if the
problem is short-term
(private issue at home,
workload, health problem)
or long-term (lack of skill,
poor cultural fit with the
organization).
 Approach Your
Colleague Directly
 The best approach is to go to the
source - speak with your colleague
directly.
 This conversation should take
place in an informal and private
setting.
 Don't accuse or blame your
colleague. Use concrete examples
to explain what you are seeing and
its impact on you.
 Offer Help and
Support
 If a short-term issue is causing
the mistakes, such as a difficult
time at home or an illness in the
family, you should offer to help.
 If you find that the source of
the mistakes is a longer term
issue, such as a lack of skill, you
can offer to help brainstorm
solutions.
 Protect Yourself
 It's possible that you'll
discover your colleague is
intentionally making
mistakes to undermine you
or take credit for your work.
 You can try to confront
the person directly, hoping
that may make him or her
back down.
 When the Issue
Continues…
 Despite all your efforts and care in handling
the situation, it is possible that the mistakes will
continue.
 This isn't only an inconvenience, it could
hinder your career. The experts suggest you
take a few approaches to preserving your
reputation.
 If possible, avoid working with that person in
the future.
 Principles to
Remember
 Keep in mind that
relationships matter.
 Be direct and honest.
 Offer help if the colleague is
struggling with a short-term
issue.
 Principles to
Remember
 Don't badmouth.
 Don't assume your
colleague is aware of the
mistakes.
 Don't go to your
colleague's manager
without first talking to
your colleague and your
manager
Thank You