When we mess up, it’s because of forces beyond our control,” he says. “When we do well, we tend to credit all of our positive and unique qualities. Make sure you’re not falling prey to the fundamental attribution error.

In that spirit, it’s also wise to reflect on your own behavior, says Uzzi. Remember, though, “you’re not going to be able to change your colleague.” Rather, you need to identify what you can do to change the situation. Answering these questions will help you figure out how to address the issue. But if not - maybe this person is junior or new to the organization and getting up to speed - it will be easier. Ask yourself: Why is your colleague falling short? Do they lack the bandwidth, ability, or resources to do the job? Do other people see your colleague’s underperformance as a problem? What impact is it having? And is this is a new situation? “If it’s been going on for a long time, it will be harder to deal with.

Diagnose the problem.įor starters, says Uzzi, you need to assess the situation to pinpoint the problem and its root cause. Here are some thoughts on how to handle the situation. It’s not worth “gritting your teeth and waiting it out,” he says. But when your job performance suffers because of your colleague’s behavior, you need to take action. Thomas Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Even then, “there’s no quick solution,” says Brian Uzzi, the Richard L. “You need to go back to your basic organizational behavior class from business school and pull out every tool in your kit,” she says. “It is probably the single most common complaint: ‘I have a colleague who doesn’t do their work and I have to pick up the slack.’” Just because it’s a common problem doesn’t make it easy to deal with, however. Having a colleague who makes mistakes, misses deadlines, or is just plain lazy is hardly unusual, says Judith White, teaching professor of business administration at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. What can you do about a colleague like this? How much support should you give this person? Do you go to your boss? And how can you safeguard your reputation within the organization? What the Experts Say

Working with someone who doesn’t pull their weight is more than just a routine frustration it can also negatively affect your work - and even your career.

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