Getting Work Done (HBR 20-Minute Manager Series)

Work Effectively with Others

Working productively doesn’t always mean working alone. You’ll often need to work with others, and for good reason: The people around you can be great resources in helping you get work done. Recognize when it’s appropriate to delegate work and learn to do it well; also identify when to ask for help.

Working with others can also slow you down, however. In a social environment like a workplace, you’re often driven to do work that you don’t need to simply because a colleague asked. You need to learn to recognize when work doesn’t add value and know how to say no. Working with your colleagues also often means a lot of meetings; to be efficient, you need to learn to make the most of those gatherings so they don’t proliferate. ...