Work can be tricky to navigate, especially when it comes to delegating tasks or reminding colleagues of their responsibilities. I’ve been in plenty of situations where I needed to tactfully tell someone “Hey, this is actually your job.” It’s not always easy, but there are ways to do it professionally without coming across as bossy or rude.
I’ll share over 75 professional ways to say this is your job and communicate job duties clearly.
Whether you’re a manager or coworker, these examples will help you address responsibilities diplomatically. I’ll also cover strategies for different work scenarios and answer some common questions.
Table of Contents
Phrases for Managers
As a manager, clearly communicating expectations is key. Here are some professional ways to remind employees of their duties:
1. “This task falls under your area of responsibility.”
2. “I’d like you to take the lead on this project.”
3. “This aligns with your role and expertise.”
4. “Can you please handle this as part of your regular duties?”
5. “I’m assigning this to you as it’s within your job description.”
6. “This is a core function of your position.”
7. “I believe this task is best suited for your skillset.”
8. “As the [job title], this would typically be your responsibility.”
9. “Given your experience, I think you’re the right person for this task.”
10. “This falls under your department’s purview.”
11. “I’d appreciate if you could take ownership of this project.”
12. “This is an opportunity for you to showcase your skills in this area.”
13. “As discussed in your performance review, this type of task is part of your role.”
14. “I’m delegating this to you as it aligns with your job duties.”
15. “Can you please oversee this as it’s within your scope of work?”
16. “This task requires your specific expertise.”
17. “I’m entrusting you with this responsibility.”
18. “As outlined in your job description, this falls under your domain.”
19. “I’d like you to spearhead this initiative.”
20. “This task is tailored to your position and skills.”
For example, if you’re a marketing manager assigning a social media campaign to a team member, you might say: “Sarah, I’d like you to take the lead on our upcoming Instagram campaign. As our social media specialist, this aligns perfectly with your role and expertise. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your skills in content creation and audience engagement.“
Related Read:
75 Genius Comebacks When Someone Says ‘That’s Not My Job’
15 Polite Examples to Gracefully Decline Extra Work Tasks at Your Job
Phrases for Coworkers
When reminding peers about their responsibilities, a softer approach often works best:
21. “I think this might be more in your wheelhouse.”
22. “Would you be able to assist with this? It seems to fit your role.”
23. “This looks like something you’d be great at handling.”
24. “I believe this task was meant for your department.”
25. “Do you mind taking a look at this? It seems related to your work.”
26. “I think you might be the best person to tackle this.”
27. “This appears to fall under your area of expertise.”
28. “Would you be comfortable taking charge of this?”
29. “I think this aligns more closely with your responsibilities.”
30. “Can you please review this? It seems relevant to your position.”
31. “This task seems to require your specific knowledge.”
32. “I think you might have more experience with this type of work.”
33. “Would you be willing to take point on this project?”
34. “This seems like it might be part of your regular duties.”
35. “I believe this task was intended for someone in your role.”
36. “Do you think you could handle this as part of your job functions?”
37. “This appears to be more in line with your day-to-day tasks.”
38. “I think your skills would be really valuable for this project.”
39. “This seems to fall within your area of responsibility.”
40. “Would you be able to oversee this as part of your regular work?”
For instance, if you’re working on a team project and notice a task that should be handled by the IT department, you could say to your IT colleague: “Hey John, I noticed we need to update the server configurations for this project. That seems more in your wheelhouse – would you be able to take charge of that part?“
Phrases for Clarifying Responsibilities
Sometimes, job duties aren’t clearly defined. Here are some ways to seek clarification:
41. “Can we review the division of responsibilities for this project?”
42. “I’d like to confirm which tasks fall under my role.”
43. “Could you please clarify the scope of my involvement in this?”
44. “I want to make sure I understand my duties correctly.”
45. “Can we discuss how we should allocate these tasks?”
46. “I’d appreciate some guidance on which parts I should focus on.”
47. “Let’s go over who’s responsible for each aspect of this project.”
48. “Could you help me understand where my role begins and ends here?”
49. “I’d like to ensure we’re on the same page about task distribution.”
50. “Can we establish clear boundaries for each team member’s responsibilities?”
51. “I’m seeking clarity on the extent of my involvement in this project.”
52. “Let’s define each person’s role to avoid any confusion.”
53. “Could you outline the specific areas you’d like me to handle?”
54. “I want to make sure I’m not overstepping or neglecting any duties.”
55. “Can we create a clear breakdown of tasks for each team member?”
For example, in a new project kickoff meeting, you might say: “Before we get started, I’d like to confirm the division of responsibilities for this project. Can we go over which tasks fall under my role and which areas others will be handling? I want to make sure we’re all on the same page to avoid any confusion down the line.“
Phrases for Redirecting Work
When someone tries to pass their work to you, here are some ways to redirect it professionally:
56. “I believe this task is better suited for your department.”
57. “This seems to fall outside my area of responsibility.”
58. “I think [colleague’s name] would be the appropriate person for this task.”
59. “My plate is full with my assigned duties at the moment.”
60. “This appears to be more aligned with your job functions.”
61. “I don’t have the necessary expertise to handle this effectively.”
62. “This task requires skills that are more in line with your role.”
63. “I’m focusing on my core responsibilities right now.”
64. “This seems to be part of your regular workflow.”
65. “I think you might be better equipped to handle this task.”
66. “This falls outside the scope of my position.”
67. “I believe this was intended for your team to manage.”
68. “My current workload doesn’t allow me to take on additional tasks.”
69. “This appears to be within your area of expertise.”
70. “I think you’d be the most qualified person to handle this.”
71. “This task seems to require your specific knowledge and skills.”
72. “I’m not authorized to take on responsibilities outside my role.”
73. “This looks like it should be part of your department’s workflow.”
74. “I think you’d be the best person to oversee this project.”
75. “This task seems to align more closely with your job description.”
For instance, if a colleague from another department tries to hand off a task that’s not your responsibility, you could say: “Thanks for bringing this to my attention, but I believe this task is better suited for your department. It seems to require specific knowledge of your processes that I don’t have. I think you or someone on your team would be the most qualified to handle this effectively.“
Final Thoughts
Dealing with job duties can be tricky, but talking clearly and kindly really helps. It’s not about dodging work or blaming others – it’s about making sure everyone knows what they’re supposed to do. When you use polite words to talk about who does what, it makes work run smoother. This way, everyone understands their job and can do it well.
Think of it like a puzzle. Each person has their own piece to fit in. When we talk nicely about which piece belongs to who, the whole puzzle comes together better. It’s not always easy, but it makes work nicer for everyone when we do.
Remember, good teamwork starts with good talk. When you use these professional ways to say this is your job, it helps create a happier place to work where everyone knows their part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do I tell my boss that a task isn’t my responsibility without sounding insubordinate?
Focus on your current workload and seek clarification. You might say, “I want to make sure I understand my priorities correctly. This new task seems to fall outside my usual responsibilities. Could we discuss how it fits with my current workload and duties?”
Q2. What if a coworker constantly tries to pass their work to me?
Address the issue directly but politely. Try saying, “I’ve noticed you’ve been asking me to handle several tasks that seem to be part of your role. I’m happy to help occasionally, but I need to focus on my own responsibilities. Can we discuss a better way to manage our workloads?”
Q3. How can I remind a team member of their duties without micromanaging?
Frame it as a collaborative effort. You could say, “I noticed this task hasn’t been completed yet. It’s an important part of your role that impacts our team’s success. Is there anything I can do to help you prioritize it?”
Q4. What if I’m unsure whether a task is my responsibility or not?
Seek clarification from your manager. Try, “I want to make sure I’m clear on my responsibilities. This task has come up, and I’m not sure if it falls under my role. Could you please clarify?”
Q5. How do I handle a situation where job responsibilities overlap between colleagues?
Suggest a team meeting to clarify roles. You might propose, “I’ve noticed some overlap in our duties which is causing confusion. Could we schedule a brief meeting to review and clearly define each person’s responsibilities?”
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