Asking a colleague for help

Situation

You're swamped and so is your colleague. Advanced version: asking for help with diplomacy and reciprocity.

The roles

AYouBA senior colleague

You
Listen
Marc, je sais que tu cours après le temps toi aussi, alors je vais aller droit au but.
Marc, I know you're pressed for time too, so I'll get straight to the point.
A senior colleague
Listen
Je t'écoute. Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?
I'm listening. What's going on?
You
Listen
Le dossier du client a pris une tournure technique qui dépasse mon expertise. Toi, tu as déjà géré ce genre de cas.
The client file has taken a technical turn that's beyond my expertise. You've handled this kind of case before.
A senior colleague
Listen
C'est vrai, mais là je suis enseveli sous mes propres échéances.
True, but right now I'm buried under my own deadlines.
You
Listen
Je m'en doute, et je ne veux pas t'en rajouter. Une demi-heure pour me débloquer suffirait, et je prends le relais ensuite.
I figured, and I don't want to pile more on you. Half an hour to unblock me would be enough, and I'll take it from there.
A senior colleague
Listen
Une demi-heure, ça je peux. À condition que tu me sauves la mise sur la présentation de mardi en retour.
Half an hour, that I can do. As long as you save my skin on Tuesday's presentation in return.
You
Listen
Marché conclu. Je m'occupe des visuels, c'est dans mes cordes.
Deal. I'll handle the visuals, that's in my wheelhouse.
A senior colleague
Listen
Parfait. Concrètement, c'est quel aspect technique qui te bloque ?
Perfect. Concretely, which technical aspect is blocking you?

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Asking a colleague for helpDialogue 100

You
Listen
L'intégration avec leur ancien système. Je ne connais pas leur architecture, et eux non plus, on dirait.
The integration with their old system. I don't know their architecture, and neither do they, it seems.
A senior colleague
Listen
Classique. J'ai un contact chez eux qui pourrait clarifier ça en cinq minutes.
Classic. I have a contact there who could clarify that in five minutes.
You
Listen
Ce serait inespéré. Tu pourrais me le présenter, ou tu préfères passer le message toi-même ?
That would be a godsend. Could you introduce me, or do you prefer to pass the message yourself?
A senior colleague
Listen
Je te le présente, ce sera plus rapide ensuite pour tes prochaines questions.
I'll introduce you, it'll be quicker afterward for your future questions.
You
Listen
Tu me sauves la semaine, franchement. Je te revaudrai ça au-delà de mardi.
You're saving my week, honestly. I'll make it up to you beyond Tuesday.
A senior colleague
Listen
On se cale ça en fin d'après-midi, quand le bureau se vide ?
Shall we set it for late afternoon, when the office empties out?
You
Listen
Excellente idée, on sera plus tranquilles. Merci, ça me soulage vraiment.
Great idea, we'll have more quiet. Thanks, that's a real relief.
A senior colleague
Listen
Entre nous, c'est normal. On se serre les coudes.
Between us, it's only normal. We've got each other's backs.

Vocabulary

aller droit au butto get straight to the point
enseveli sous...buried under...— Common image for overwhelmed
prendre le relaisto take over / pick it up
sauver la miseto save the day / save one's skin— Idiom
c'est dans mes cordesit's in my wheelhouse— Idiom
se serrer les coudesto support each other / have each other's backs— Idiom

Culture note

Reciprocity ("I help you, you help me") and mutual support ("se serrer les coudes") are strong values in Quebec workplaces. Acknowledging the other person's workload before asking is a sign of tact.

Web version

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Asking a colleague for helpWeb version ↗

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Dialogue 100 / 369 · p. 203–204 / 742