Co-workers doing extra work to an extent just to undermine my team contributions in front of manager

Question

So I work in a small IT company where I am working on a small group project with two other coworkers. Based on what is expected from the manager, we frame our deliverables and divide the work amongst ourselves.

Now where the problem comes into the picture is that the other two coworkers like to overcomplicate some of the straightforward stuff to an extent just to make themselves look knowledgeable, going above and beyond etc.(n- number of other reasons that have got to do with ego). They also tend to ignore/refute my reasoning to a point where it looks condescending. I can surely step up and raise my voice but seeing as the result would be more along the lines of strained relations with the coworkers, I generally choose to be accommodating with them but it gets tough at times.

I understand it's good that folks like to go above and beyond, but I really like to stick with what I have been asked to do. I also get that some individuals seek validation of what they know, but in the process, they tend to hurt others around them (unintentionally). I am all for going the extra mile, but it serves me nothing if it starts to affect other aspects of life, especially if you are working in IT.

So essentially, what I am asking is :

1. If you were a manager looking at the work contributions, would you judge me negatively?

2. Should I play catch up with the other two coworkers to make myself appear as an equal contributor? (All of that, even if it starts to affect other aspects of my life)

3. From an employee's perspective, what do you think is a healthy mindset in this situation?

Answer 1

If you don't advocate for yourself no one will

seeing as the result would be more along the lines of strained relations with the coworkers, I generally choose to be accommodating with them but it gets tough at times.

It isn't clear to me why you want to be accomodating to people who are trying to make you look bad. Stand up for yourself.

I can surely step up and raise my voice

You don't need to raise your voice to refute someone. Do it calmly and in a straightforward manner.

Only your manager can answer how they view you as part of all this. But you should understand that politics and performance are both important in most companies. "Fluff and Stuff." You need some fluff or people don't notice your stuff. Unfortunately, navigating office politics is part of the job. Bad workplaces can be dominated by this and will produce employees who are masters of politics, not results.

That said, expect that people who work more may be rewarded for that extra work, whether or not it adds value. You can't fix this, you can only control yourself. You need to decide (and probably have a discussion with your boss) if that's how you want to compete. Again unfortunately, the workplace is often a competition with winners and losers in compensation and advancement. Only you know if that's the case where you work. But a discussion with your manager about all this is probably a good place to start. It is possible they see through your co-workers' heavy-handed attempts to gain favor.

Answer 2

If you were a manager looking at the work contributions, would you judge me negatively?

Assuming you're doing everything you're actually asked to do (and to a suitable standard) no. If the "extra mile" the co-workers are doing is really adding value I might view them more positively than you but it wouldn't make me think negatively of you. It's not a zero-sum game.

Should I play catch up with the other two coworkers to make myself appear as an equal contributor? (All of that, even if it starts to affect other aspects of my life)

Not if it's going to lower your quality of life over-all.

From an employee's perspective, what do you think is a healthy mindset in this situation?

Frankly I'd stop assuming that everything my coworkers did was about me. Because the chances are it really isn't. Do what you're asked to a high standard, and go home at the end of the day and enjoy your life without worrying about work. We all get to decide how much "extra" we're personally happy to give - and if that's "zero" for you then more power to you. If it's more than zero - so long as you know why you're doing it and are actually getting what you want from it then that's great too.

Answer 3

Also – sit down with your manager and simply ask him or her instead of "assuming" that you know what they think about the subject, or about you.

It's very enlightening to sit in that manager's-chair and to realize that some of your employees are basically "psyching themselves out" and making themselves quite miserable because they "assumed" they knew what you were thinking or what you wanted, but never asked. As a manager, you need to watch out for this and try to catch it early. Many employees will consciously or unconsciously take everything you say "very personally," and "in the worst possible light." And they won't say anything to you about it.

You know the saw: "'assume' makes an 'ass' of 'u' and 'me.'" But it's actually true!