DEAR HARRIETTE: I never know how to tell someone no. I know my limits, and when I am overworked, but I want to be the person at work who always puts the best foot forward. I think some don't see me as a hard worker; they see me as someone who will do their work. My parents always taught me that volunteering once in a while will give me a good reputation and hopefully lead to my superiors seeing me as someone they'd think of to give a big project to and, eventually, a promotion. But my reputation has just given my superiors and their assistants the idea that they can drop their problems or difficult tasks to fix on me. There are a number of things coming to me from all directions. How do I backtrack from the side work and say no? Or should I just suck it up and keep on the road I've been heading down? Is this what it takes? -- Piled Up Work
DEAR PILED UP WORK: It is time for you to employ strategy. What do you want for yourself at your job? What role? What responsibilities? Have you talked to your superiors about that? As you so generously offer to help others, you should begin to steer your offers to areas where you can learn and grow -- and show your company your capabilities.
By the way, being able to solve problems and successfully handle difficult tasks is an asset. Just make sure that you let your superiors know that you are capable of doing more. Since you have helped to come up with solutions for other things, encourage them to give you more tasks that are in alignment with your goals.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)