Trying to be helpful or to be a team player at all times can make you a worse performer.
This may sound counterintuitive, but it often happens if you do not set limits on what you are willing to do for others.
According to Rachel Feintzeig of the Wall Street Journal, employees should learn how to say no to busy work if they are to supercharge their careers.
She advises employees at all levels to figure out what professional projects matter most and to ditch office chores that don’t help them get ahead.
Unfortunately, you can’t just reject all tasks not directly related to your job as this could get you replaced.
Instead, consider what is likely to help you get noticed for a promotion and what would just eat up the time you need for the more urgent matters.
Are your teammates or manager constantly asking you for favors they could otherwise do themselves? If yes, you now know what to do!