Question

You and a coworker are checking the accuracy of reports that were generated from a database. You are more efficient and finish the job in much less time than your coworker. Read the following possible courses of action and decide which is the best way to handle the situation and which is the worst way to handle the situation?

1) Discuss with your coworker and offer to help them improve their efficiency.
2) Keep quiet and continue working at your own pace.
3) Report the issue to your supervisor and suggest a solution.
4) Compete with your coworker to see who can finish the job faster.
5) Seek feedback from your coworker and try to learn from their methods.

Answer 1

The best course of action when more efficient than a coworker is to offer help and discuss ways to improve efficiency together. In contrast, competing with the coworker could harm the team dynamic. The correct answer is option 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you find yourself more efficient at a task than a coworker, the best course of action is one that is supportive and fosters a positive team environment. Given the options, the best way to handle the situation is to discuss with your coworker and offer to help them improve their efficiency (Option 1). This approach aligns with the principles of staying calm, listening to the other side of the story, and focusing on problem-solving rather than placing blame. It allows for mutual growth and team solidarity.

On the other hand, the worst way to handle the situation would be to compete with your coworker to see who can finish the job faster (Option 4), as that could create unnecessary tension and undermine teamwork.

Competing could potentially damage the relationship and overall team dynamics, fostering a hostile work environment rather than a collaborative one. It is important to remember that offering feedback should be done respectfully and without insinuations of inferiority. Again, the correct option in the final answer is to discuss with your coworker and offer help (Option 1), and the one to avoid is turning the situation into a completion (Option 4).