You work in a busy office that fulfills orders for Amazon. You need help responding to a customer inquiry. You ask a co-worker to assist you. She refused to help you because she says that she is on a busy schedule and can’t stop to help you. Since then, there has been tension between you and your co-worker. You have felt very upset and angry. A few weeks later, your co-worker tells you that she needs your help on a project. Your immediate response is that you feel that you do not want to help her and will treat her the same way that she treated you.

Question

You work in a busy office that fulfills orders for Amazon. You need help responding to a customer inquiry. You ask a co-worker to assist you. She refused to help you because she says that she is on a busy schedule and can’t stop to help you. Since then, there has been tension between you and your co-worker. You have felt very upset and angry. A few weeks later, your co-worker tells you that she needs your help on a project. Your immediate response is that you feel that you do not want to help her and will treat her the same way that she treated you. 
Using the techniques and information you’ve learned how should you respond appropriately?

GPT-4o mini · Answer

It's understandable to feel upset and angry after experiencing a lack of support, but responding with the same attitude can lead to a cycle of negativity. Here are some steps you can take to respond appropriately:

Pause and Reflect: Before reacting, take a moment to breathe and collect your thoughts. Acknowledge your feelings but don’t let them dictate your response.
Empathy: Try to put yourself in your co-worker's shoes. Consider that she might be under pressure and may have her own reasons for needing help.
Communicate Openly: Instead of shutting her down, consider expressing how you felt during the previous situation. Use "I" statements to convey your feelings without sounding accusatory. For example, "I felt a bit overwhelmed when I needed help recently, and it was hard not to receive it."
Set Boundaries: While it's good to be supportive, it’s also important to set boundaries. You could say something like, “I want to help you, but I need to manage my own workload as well. Can we find a time that works for both of us?”
Offer Help: Assess if you truly can assist her with her project. If you can, offer your help, but be clear about your own commitments. You might say, “I can help out a bit, but my schedule is tight. Let’s figure out how I can support you without compromising my responsibilities.”
Find Common Ground: Use this situation as a way to improve your relationship. You can suggest collaborating more in the future and maybe create a mutual support system to avoid similar situations.

By responding in this way, you can help de-escalate any tension while also fostering a more positive working relationship.