My default decision is to help the person. The only reason I wouldn't would be because of some prior commitment conflicting with it.
If, as per one of your examples, I had a 5:30 engagement already scheduled, I'd tell the manager what the situation was, and ask if getting the requested data after that would work.
If I have to go out of my way to help someone, I will almost always do so. Then I'll inform them that they owe someone a favor. Doesn't matter what, doesn't matter for whom, they just need to take an extra effort to help someone.
That policy has worked very well for me. People respond positively to it.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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