When Should You “Stay in Your Lane”?

 Thu 15 July 2021

When Should You “Stay in Your Lane”?
You see an important task that needs to be done, but it isn’t your responsibility. Should you jump in and do it? Before taking on someone else’s work, consider these three factors. First, ask yourself: What else is going on? In a turbulent environment, straying outside your lane could cause additional chaos or confusion, even if your intentions are to be a good team player. Next, think twice before crossing team boundaries. You probably won’t have a complete enough understanding of the other team’s situation to jump in and be effective right away. Finally, if you do decide you need to pitch in, be prepared to over-communicate — both in face-to-face huddles and over digital channels. You don’t always need to stay in your lane — just be sure to merge both out of your lane and back in with caution and care.
This tip is adapted from “When to Take On Tasks That Are Outside of Your Job Description,” by Margaret M. Luciano et al.

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