I answered for them again on my way home.
When you finish a teammate’s stalled work for them, the schedule keeps moving for now.
A team leader who kept finishing work for an underperforming teammate takes another look, during an after-work conversation, at the moment the boundary around their work began to blur.
Right before a meeting, Minji takes a teammate’s report, unfinished on time, and presents it herself. On her way home, she meets Baekho and brings up the moment she stepped in again when the teammate said he was stuck. Baekho first recognizes what Minji did, then points out where helping blurred into taking over. Minji swallows the words she was about to say, without deciding what to do next time.
When you keep doing a teammate’s work for them
Helping and owning the result can start with the same words and end differently.
When was the most recent time you took over work your teammate was responsible for?
Even after finishing the report her teammate got stuck on, Minji brings it up again on her way home. We saw the moment a helping hand ended up taking responsibility for the result, too. If you’ve had a similar walk home, you’re welcome to share what stayed with you.
Scenes
- 01 · Right before the meeting A report presented for him — Right before the meeting, Taehun handed Minji the unfinished report. She took it and stood in front of the presentation screen. Taehun: I haven’t been able to get this part in order, Team Lead. Minji: I’ll take it from here.
- 02 · On the way home The one who finished the report — On her way home, Minji tells Baekho she finished the report Taehun got stuck on. Baekho: You already have a lot on your plate, Minji, and you finished that report before heading out, too. What did Taehun say afterward? Minji: He thanked me. Should I just stop helping him next time?
- 03 · Stuck again Stepping in again and again — Whenever Taehun got stuck, Minji took the papers and finished the work for him. Even after that, Taehun couldn’t prepare the next report on his own. Minji: But he couldn’t prepare the next report on his own, either. I’m not sure I should keep doing it for him. Baekho: Looking together at where someone is stuck is different from taking responsibility for the result. What were you about to say before you stopped?
- 04 · Words swallowed An answer held back — Minji opened her mouth, then closed it. The words she was about to say still hadn’t come out. Baekho: Those words are still right there, Minji. What comes to mind first?
Stories by Baekho
- Baekho
- Even grocery shopping makes everything I need to do today feel urgent.
- Every Sunday night, I rewrite what I’m looking for.
- I open the handover file before bed.
- At a red light, I think of what I’m good at in my work.
- The day before an important meeting, I swallow my words again.
- It feels like I’m giving up my career.
- When a request comes up in the group chat, I reply first.
- Every morning, it feels like I have to leave my career behind.