Getting handed work that is not yours is one of the trickiest moments at the office. Say it wrong and you sound difficult; say nothing and it becomes yours forever. Use the copy-paste phrases below to redirect it gracefully, or rewrite your own blunt version into a polished one.
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Try an example
Before
I finished a small project at work that made weekly reporting easier.
After
Small wins still matter. I wrapped up a small internal reporting project this week. It made one repeated weekly task easier for the team, and it reminded me that useful work does not always need a dramatic launch. #Operations #Productivity #Teamwork
The professional version of "this is not my job" is never a flat no. It confirms who should own the work, keeps things moving, and protects your own commitments - so you look like a team player, not a blocker.
Acknowledge the goal, state that it falls outside your role or capacity, and redirect it to the right owner. Focus on getting it done well rather than refusing.
Confirm who actually owns the work, offer to make an introduction, and explain that taking it on could slow it down or put your own commitments at risk.
Frame it around scope and ownership, not refusal. Phrases like "this sits with [team]" or "I want to make sure it gets to the right owner" keep you helpful.
Yes, but frame it as protecting priorities. Ask which of your current tasks should be deprioritized, or flag that the work should sit with another team.