Picture this: You’re over your head with your work. You’re already behind on your project that’s due in a day. The phone rings, you answer. “Hello, may I help you?”

On the other end of the line you hear the voice of your  leader. He needs you to prepare a report for him right away. You huff and puff to yourself, but, with a smile on your face you say “I’ll get that to you right away; just give me an hour or two.” You drop what you’re doing and start working on the leader’s request.

Now picture this: The phone rings, you answer. “Hello, may I help you?”

On the other end of the line is your colleague who is in a bind and needs your help to finish a project that’s due in a day. He is missing some vital information that you can help provide but it will take you time to gather the information. You huff and puff…to him, and you tell him you’re busy with your own project and you have a deadline coming up too. You say this was not in the scope of your to-do’s for the day. And, at best, offer to get the information to him after your project is done.

Can you see the difference in attitude and willingness to help? This may sound farfetched, but, unfortunately it happens all the time at the workplace. And, we are all guilty of this at one time or another. Leaders ask and they receive. Colleagues ask, and they ask, and they hustle and bustle, and sweat and beg, in order to get the information they need to do their job.

Let me ask you, which one of the two scenarios would you fall under? Would you jump as soon as a leader asks for something? I bet you would! How about when a colleague needs your help? Would you do your best to get the information he or she needs timely?

Think about these scenarios for a minute. Let’s say the tables were reversed and you were the one who needed help from a colleague in order to finish your project. But, when you asked, you were either ignored, or did not receive what you needed timely. Or, even worse, you could sense an annoyance that you even asked for help. How would you feel? Betrayed? Angry? Resentful? Upset? Frustrated that you can’t finish your job? All of the above? Now let me ask you again. Wouldn’t you rather have your colleague say “I’ll get that for you by the end of the day?!”

Earning the respect of your colleagues is as important as earning the respect of your leaders. So, always be willing to help regardless of the rank of the person asking for your help. You never know when you’ll need theirs.