Sorry. I don't work for you.

    There comes a point in which you have to ask yourself: Where is my line between enabling this person, and trying to create a sense of peace in my daily workspace? This is something I am struggling with right now. When you have to constantly deal with someone who will not bend, you reach a point where it's simply easier to cave into their demands than to stand up to them. In doing so, you are at risk for losing a sense of respect for yourself, amongst other things. You also wind up stuffing how you really feel because to tick them off would not turn out well for you. However, as soon as you decided to just close your mouth, and do what they say, you're stuck. They soon expect you to do more things. Naturally they expected it before, but with nothing to support it. Now they have proof: Whine/demand/guilt-trip/pressure you enough, and you will do it. Dang it. Now I'm not saying that peace isn't important, but temporary peace isn't worth a sacrifice of self respect, or your sanity. How do we know this? Because the peace will not last. They will demand more of your time, effort, and brain, and it will never be good enough. It's the definition of a no-win situation coupled with a downhill slide that will feel very out of control.

    That being said, it's also extremely tiring to try to deflect people constantly. It's like dealing with a two year old who doesn't know the meaning of the word no, except they are an adult who simply thinks that the word "no" should never be applied to them. Ever. That, and they know more words than a two year old, but not necessarily bigger ones. Extra annoyance points will be awarded for this person being higher in the pecking order than you, but catering to their every whim is not in your job description. Entitlement is a serious issue, and it is rampant. It isn't just gen Y. It's everyone who has never had someone put down their foot, and say "no, I don't have to do that just because you think I should." Half the time, I am scared of this person. The other half alternates between annoyed, and ambivalent. Obviously they don't deserve the rent space in my head that it takes for me to be annoyed, but I think it only becomes a problem if you dwell on it. When you're trying to deal with this, you have to walk a fine line between ignoring them, and being disrespectful. Unfortunately, they will often confuse and switch around the two, so that you can't win either way. The funny thing is, if you put your foot down, they most likely won't go tattling to upper management. Why? Upper management is most likely going to have your back. If you are uncertain of this, I suggest the following conversation with a manager, or the next person up the totem pole. "I know you're busy, but I need your help with something. I need some suggestions on what to say to so and so when they're after me to do ___________. I know I can help them out sometimes, but I don't have time to do it for them all the time, and when I tell them I'm busy, they get upset. (You may need to quote an example here.) I don't want to alienate them, or upset them; I just don't want them to treat me like their secretary. What approach would you suggest I use next time I encounter this?" It's called being proactive, and you may be surprised by the results.

    Here is my philosophy on this: I will help if you need it, but don't expect me to drop everything to work on your problem when I have seven others that came first, especially if the reason you have a problem is a direct result of poor planning. That is never my problem, and no, you cannot make it my problem. No you cannot bribe me. I refuse to take your monkey from you; I have enough of my own to deal with. Now go away.