How to deal with needy coworker?

[Jugernot]

I work with a guy who is very needy and he constantly asks for help doing things he "should" know how to do himself (things that are part of his job). He was hired 1.5 years ago and at first he was one of those very cocky noobs we all love dealing with. His usual response to me asking him questions was "I've got an MCSE, of course I know how to do that!" If he knew, why didn't he just do it?

Over the last 1.5 years he constantly asks me for help with little issues here and there that quite honestly don't take much of my time. It's usually just one of those moments where I walk up, change a few settings and it's done.

But lately he's become a brown noser to the boss and has started tattling on people to the boss. Little stuff like "Well, I saw his leave work 10 minutes early yesterday." Just little things that screw people.... He's gone to the boss two times with complaints about me because in his words "He looked at me wrong, I don't have to deal with that! Tell him he needs to be nicer!" and the second time was because I used a peice of a equipment that he disagreed with.

It's getting to the point, I don't want to deal with him anymore and don't want to help him do his job. I pretty much have to talk to him on a daily basis because in a few areas I'm his senior, but I'm tired of helping him with things he should know how to do.

How would you guys suggest I execute this? If I am direct, he will no doubt complain and my boss will tell me to be a team player. I've tried the quiet routine, yet he still comes to me for help. I also don't want to play ignorant card because in the end it makes me look like I don't know how to do what he's asking, which is usually easy stuff.

Anyway, I guess this was more of a rant than anything.

Jugs

 

[Leros]

Go talk to your boss. Tell him you don't mind helping out fellow employees, but that is guy is being excessive.

 

[Chiboy]

Originally posted by: Leros
Go talk to your boss. Tell him you don't mind helping out fellow employees, but that is guy is being excessive.

BOOM! & tell him about Google...

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Leros
Go talk to your boss. Tell him you don't mind helping out fellow employees, but that is guy is being excessive.

I would think you would want to emphasize how it was creating a work problem:

Ex: Supporting him is taking a considerable amount of your time and serving a distraction while performing your normal functions...or something like that.

 

[Jugernot]

Yah see that's the thing.... it's not creating problems for me. Being completely honest here... I want to see the guy fail. Failing is harder than having a mentor to help you through your problem, but in the end it will expand his knowledge base and make him a better tech.

Over 10 years ago I learned my craft through trial and error on my own and that has made me a very well rounded computer professional. I didn't have someone holding my hands with the answers.

The guy needs to fail and I don't want to be the guy (in my boss's eyes anyway) to just sit back and let the guy fail.

I suppose, you can't always have what you want.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

Originally posted by: Jugernot
I work with a guy who is very needy and he constantly asks for help doing things he "should" know how to do himself (things that are part of his job). He was hired 1.5 years ago and at first he was one of those very cocky noobs we all love dealing with. His usual response to me asking him questions was "I've got an MCSE, of course I know how to do that!" If he knew, why didn't he just do it?

.
.
.

How would you guys suggest I execute this? If I am direct, he will no doubt complain and my boss will tell me to be a team player. I've tried the quiet routine, yet he still comes to me for help. I also don't want to play ignorant card because in the end it makes me look like I don't know how to do what he's asking, which is usually easy stuff.

Anyway, I guess this was more of a rant than anything.

Jugs

I think you hit it right on the head with your last paragraph. Just make sure you don't hit any salvagable organs when you pull the trigger.



Oops! Wrong country.

 

[oogabooga]

As a tech force him to really think about an issue and address the solution.

When he comes up to you with a question ask him questions and force him to answer his own question. It'll force him into thinking about issues and ideally he'll stop asking you since either 1) he'll become competent or 2) he'll hate asking you. Since he's not taking up any of your time this shouldn't be hard to do.

 

[FoBoT]

the guy is a moran if he asks you instead of google

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the guy is a moran if he asks you instead of google

While this seems logical, you have to understand office politics. Perception is reality and truth doesn't apply. He is obviously NOT a moron because he's playing the game extremely well.

Here's what is going on:
1) He's playing the dumbass to co-workers. And he probably is incompetent, but that doesn't matter.
2) He's helping the boss and making him look good and giving a reason to assert his authority. Basically he's a mole. Rule #1, make your boss "feel" good. Rule #2, make your boss look good.
3) He's pre-emptively shielded himself from counter attacks by making the first strike.
4) Mole, plus protected, plus troops not liking the mole? No matter what the troops do, the mole has the boss's confidence because he is willing to rat on co-workers. This means the mole is loyal to the boss, and NOT the troops.
5) Only a peer or above peer to the boss can change this.

It's all a game. Don't hate the player. Don't be so quick to call this guy a moron.

 

[Dunbar]

Welcome to office politics. I would start subtly blowing him off when he asks for your help, eventually he'll get a clue. I wouldn't go to your boss, that could backfire.

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the guy is a moran if he asks you instead of google

While this seems logical, you have to understand office politics. Perception is reality and truth doesn't apply. He is obviously NOT a moron because he's playing the game extremely well.

Here's what is going on:
1) He's playing the dumbass to co-workers. And he probably is incompetent, but that doesn't matter.
2) He's helping the boss and making him look good and giving a reason to assert his authority. Basically he's a mole. Rule #1, make your boss "feel" good. Rule #2, make your boss look good.
3) He's pre-emptively shielded himself from counter attacks by making the first strike.
4) Mole, plus protected, plus troops not liking the mole? No matter what the troops do, the mole has the boss's confidence because he is willing to rat on co-workers. This means the mole is loyal to the boss, and NOT the troops.
5) Only a peer or above peer to the boss can change this.

It's all a game. Don't hate the player. Don't be so quick to call this guy a moron.

A smart boss that knows how to play the game see right through this type of child's play. A good boss is not gonna tolerate someone that tattletales behind everybody else's back, because he knows it is only a matter of time before the same guy stab him in the back too trying to climb a ladder or two.

These people are usually the first to be let go during layoffs. If you are an enemy of the troops, then you are an enemy of the company. The boss has a lot of pressure on his plate to eliminate the common enemy. Because in the end, 1 person's productivity is less than 10 peoples productivity.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the guy is a moran if he asks you instead of google

a moran huh? LMAO

 

[Wheezer]

I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your boss/supervisor, but I would have a 1 on 1 with him and tell him your concerns in a way that does not portray the guy in REALLY negative light but so that he understands.

Have others discussed this same concern?

If so tell him without dropping names, and make sure he understands that the guy is affecting productivity. (they have a tendency to frown on that)

Ask him to observe for himself and see if he notices a trend....if he doesn't let it go and find your own way to set the guy up to fail.

(it will probably take a group effort on the part of other employees that see what you do and feel the same way...but only discuss this with people you trust.)

 

[revnja]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: FoBoT
the guy is a moran if he asks you instead of google

a moran huh? LMAO

*taps sarcasm meter*

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
A smart boss that knows how to play the game see right through this type of child's play. A good boss is not gonna tolerate someone that tattletales behind everybody else's back, because he knows it is only a matter of time before the same guy stab him in the back too trying to climb a ladder or two.

These people are usually the first to be let go during layoffs. If you are an enemy of the troops, then you are an enemy of the company. The boss has a lot of pressure on his plate to eliminate the common enemy. Because in the end, 1 person's productivity is less than 10 peoples productivity.

You would be really surprised. You really, really would.

He's managing perception, he's already in the lead. Productivity means nothing. Smart middle manager go nowhere. Like I said, it's all a game.

 

[nutxo]

Buy him a litte notepad and a golf pencil. Each time you show him how to do what he needs to do make him write down the procedure. He'll either learn or stop asking.

 

[BUTCH1]

What? you help him get his job done and he repays you with a generous helping
of backstabbing? This is a lowlife, period. Set him up so he fails so bad he lands in the
street, has the late Jakie Gleason would say, Har-de har-har-har...