How to Say "That's Not My Job" (Without Being Fired)
By RefinedReply Team • 3 min read
Scope creep is silent but deadly. One small favor becomes a permanent responsibility. You need to push back, but "That's not my job" sounds lazy.
The Strategy: Pivot to "Capacity" and "Expertise"
You aren't refusing work; you are ensuring the work goes to the person best suited for it (or preserving your capacity for your actual KPI).
Scenario A: The "Random Task" Request
"I'm not the best person to help with this as it falls outside my area of expertise. I believe [Name/Department] would have the context needed to execute this effectively."
Scenario B: The "Overloaded" Defense
"I would love to help, but given my current focus on [Project A], I don't have the bandwidth to take this on without impacting the delivery date of our core goals. Shall we deprioritize [Project A]?"