“That’s not my job”: 5 tips on building support without authority
- Lyanne Campbell
- Nov 11
- 4 min read
I’ll never forget the day when I needed help with something and went to a co-worker’s office to ask for a hand. His response…
“F**k off, that’s not my job”
Yep, he said that. Exactly those words. I even remember what he was wearing. That’s how deeply it stuck.
As a marketer in a business, you are often the one who needs to ask for help and support from your leadership and co-workers. You literally cannot do it all alone.
It’s not always easy. Especially when they have zero accountability to you.
Hopefully you don’t have encounters with the rude dude I mentioned above. While most people won’t say those words out loud, they might show them in their actions — and that’s where the real challenge begins.
So how do you manage that?
I recently shared these tips during a Mastermind session for Credit Union Marketing Leaders - where we tackle real challenges and find practical, actionable solutions together.
If you would like to learn more about the Mastermind sessions I offer, please reach out.
Here are 5 tips (plus a bonus) from my experience on how to get the support you need.
In the words of Simon Sinek, Start with Why
People support what they understand. When they know the ‘why,’ it transforms an ask into a shared mission.
When people comprehend why you are doing a certain initiative, project or campaign and you can relate it back to their job/their role at your business, they will be more likely to lean into what you are asking of them.
For example, ABC campaign is rolling out next month promoting a new service. One of the tactics is to have 25 personal reach outs to existing members (customers). You know, as a marketing leader that the retail team each has a goal of 5 member contacts per year. If you take the time to explain the campaign, how it connects to the organization goals, and importantly, how it connects to the individual goals, your likelihood of buy in will increase.
Get leadership on board
Before you roll out your initiative to all staff, you need to get in a room with your leadership team. Those are your key influencers. Walk them through what you are doing and why and get their input. Ask if there are any potential roadblocks that would slow this down. Then, most importantly get their support.
Once you have that, and the initiative is rolling out, ensure they now influence their teams to carry through. If you meet resistance later, revisit the earlier conversation to realign around the shared goals you set together.
Be clear on your ask
Have you ever put your hand up to volunteer for something, shown up and then stood around doing nothing, for what seems like….forever…? I have, and I’ll tell you what, I didn’t volunteer to help that person again.
The people you are asking have a lot going on in their work and lives. When you ask for help, be clear: This is what you will do, this is how long it should take, this is the support you will have.
When I used to plan for the Fall Fair, a local community co-hosted by the credit union I worked at, I would have: a detailed task list, the time slots that volunteers were needed, and even a map showing where to place the stage, tables and chairs, games, etc. This way, when people showed up (and I assure you, we needed a lot of volunteers), they knew exactly what to do.
Use a nudge
Post the request and who has volunteered in a place that all employees will see it. This is called social proof - when people see others stepping up, they’re more likely to do the same.
In the example above, I used to place the volunteer list on the coffee table, plus send out a series of emails letting people know the spots that were remaining. I was never short of help.
Reciprocity
When people do something for us, an instinctive response for many is to reciprocate. What could this look like? Perhaps a small token or gift left on a desk. A hand-written note of appreciation for the work they do. An after work social gathering.
When the actions you take are genuine, you don’t have to spend a lot of money.
Bonus tip: Celebrate them!
People like to be recognized. This can be anything from a celebratory party to a thoughtful note for their role in supporting the initiative. When they feel seen and appreciated, they will be more endeared to you and the work you are doing.
Getting people to help out when they are not accountable to you can be a lesson in frustration. But don’t let that stop you.
Accountability isn’t automatic — it’s built through clarity, connection, and consistency. Try these tips and watch how support can follow.
Hope you found this helpful, and as always,
Keep on being amazing,
Lyanne
Marketing shouldn’t feel like guesswork.
If you’re tired of wasting time on marketing tactics that don’t move the needle, you’re in the right place. My goal is to help you create a clear, strategic marketing plan that actually works—so you can stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results.
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To your success,
Lyanne
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