Lifescripts, 3rd Edition

99Asking a Coworker to Redo Their Work

STRATEGY

Wouldn't it be grand if everything in life went according to plan? Unfortunately, that's rarely the case, especially at work. Projects stamped “finished” can easily land back in the “to be completed” pile due to last minute changes in circumstance. Maybe some new info has come in that needs to be included in a report, or maybe you just found out the stats that were used need to be replaced pronto. Whatever shift has occurred, the bottom line is that work has to be redone. The goal of this script is getting a peer to redo their work when an unexpected, dramatic shift in circumstances has rendered the work they've already done incomplete or worse, obsolete. The secret to achieving this by pointing out to them that (a) they really have no choice, and (b) they're not suffering alone. Everyone is in the same boat.

TACTICS

• Attitude: You're appealing for them to do their part. There's no need to resort to threatening, begging or cajoling. It's okay to demonstrate annoyance—not at them but over the fact the department has been hit with this at the last minute—but be careful not to let it degenerate into a pity party. Convey a sense of urgency.
• Preparation: If you can, find out exactly what your peer needs to redo, as well as when the changes are needed. This will help guarantee speed and efficiency. The last thing in the world you want is to have to go back to them more than once because you were unclear about their role in the revision ...