How to Address a Coworker Who Is Not Putting in an Equal Effort

Working with a coworker who is not putting in an equal effort can be frustrating and demoralizing. It can feel like you are doing all the work, while your coworker is coasting. This can lead to resentment and a decline in productivity.

If you are in this situation, there are a few things you can do to address the issue in a professional manner.

1. Start by being polite and respectful. Even though you are frustrated, it is important to approach your coworker in a professional manner. This means using a calm and respectful tone of voice, and avoiding personal attacks.

2. Be specific about the issue. Don't just say that your coworker is not putting in enough effort. Instead, be specific about what they are not doing. For example, you could say something like, "I noticed that you didn't contribute to the brainstorming session, and you didn't review the final draft of the Twitter post before it was published."

3. Be open to hearing their perspective. It is possible that your coworker has a good reason for not putting in as much effort. For example, they may have been dealing with a personal issue or they may have been assigned other tasks that took priority.

4. Be willing to compromise. If your coworker is willing to put in more effort, you may be willing to let go of some of your own work. For example, you could agree to take on the research for the next project, while your coworker takes on the writing.

5. If you cannot come to an agreement, escalate the issue to your manager. If you have tried to resolve the issue with your coworker and you are still not satisfied, you may need to escalate the issue to your manager. Your manager can help to mediate the situation and come up with a solution that is fair to everyone involved.

Here is an example of how you could talk to your coworker:

Hi [coworker's name],

I wanted to talk to you about our recent collaboration on the Twitter post. I noticed that you didn't contribute to the brainstorming session, and you didn't review the final draft of the Twitter post before it was published.

I understand that you may have had other priorities, but I'm concerned that this will happen again in the future. I'm happy to help you out, but I also want to make sure that the work is evenly distributed.

Would you be willing to put in more effort on the next project? If not, we can talk to our manager about how to divide the work more equitably.

I'm open to hearing your perspective on this, and I'm willing to work with you to find a solution that works for both of us.

Thanks, [Your name]

Here are some additional tips for addressing a coworker who is not putting in an equal effort:

• Choose a time to talk when you are both calm and have some time to discuss the issue.
• Be specific about the expectations for the project and how your coworker's behavior did not meet those expectations.
• Be willing to listen to your coworker's perspective and try to understand why they may not have been able to put in as much effort as you had hoped.
• Be willing to compromise and find a solution that works for both of you.
• If you are unable to resolve the issue with your coworker, be prepared to escalate the issue to your manager.

Addressing a coworker who is not putting in an equal effort can be a difficult conversation, but it is important to do so in a professional manner. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of resolving the issue and ensuring that the work is evenly distributed in the future.