In every role I've held throughout my life, I've had multiple responsibilities that have forced me to deal with other people's problems. At times it was uncomfortable, but at least I was able to keep a positive attitude about the situation.
What happened when I moved into new roles in the past, however? It turned into an entire lifetime of unpleasant interactions. And I knew it would happen. It was only a matter of time.
So here's how I avoided that fate...
STEP 1: Understand and Accept What Responsibility Actually Means
There's no way around it. Every person you encounter will give you some sort of task. This includes coworkers, bosses, teachers, friends, family, strangers, even pets.
This is not to be taken personally. They are only trying to do their part to make the world a better place. As long as you understand that, it doesn't need to be a big deal. Just do the job and move on.
STEP 2: Decide Whether the Person is Capable of Taking On Your Responsibility
This is one of the most important steps in making sure you don't end up being responsible for someone else's problems. It's easy to think of people as incompetent, but we often don't realize just how competent some of them really are.
Asking questions is one of the best ways to determine if a person is capable of handling responsibility. If they ask for advice, are they capable of taking action by themselves? Are they afraid of making a mistake? Do they need constant supervision? Do they need to be reminded to do their own thing?
Once you know the answers to these questions, you can take them into account while assigning the task.
STEP 3: Determine What Other People Expect of You
Knowing what your responsibilities are and knowing whether the person you're assigning the responsibility to is capable of handling it can also help you determine what expectations others might have.
If you know you are being responsible for something that your co-worker does not know, then you might assume that you will be accountable for their mistakes as well.
Even though it may seem unfair, you should assume that they are competent unless they tell you otherwise. They are the one asking for your help, after all.
STEP 4: Give the Person All the Help They Need
Asking a person for help does not make you their supervisor. When you are asked to assist another person, it does not mean that you are responsible for them.
Always give your co-workers the tools they need to do their jobs correctly, without stepping on their toes. It's your job to make sure they get the results, but they're the ones who have to get them done.
Giving someone all the help you can helps avoid the responsibility of others, and in turn avoids unpleasant situations.