You're sitting in a glass-walled conference room. Or maybe you're on a laggy Zoom call staring at a pixelated version of your boss. They drop a bombshell. A request so out of left field, so fundamentally bizarre, that your brain just stalls. You think, you want me to do what? Honestly, it’s the universal mantra of the modern workplace.
We’ve all been there.
Whether it's being asked to "fix the algorithm" with zero coding knowledge or managing a PR crisis involving a CEO’s ill-advised 3:00 AM post, the corporate world is getting weirder. It isn't just about "other duties as assigned" anymore. It’s about the blurring lines between professional roles, personal boundaries, and the rapid-fire evolution of technology.
When the Job Description Lies to You
Let’s be real. Job descriptions are basically fan fiction. They describe a version of the role that exists for about twenty minutes on a Tuesday morning before reality hits. According to data from LinkedIn’s 2025 Workforce Report, nearly 64% of employees reported that their day-to-day tasks diverged significantly from their initial contract within the first six months.
This leads to that moment of pure disbelief. You were hired as a data analyst. Suddenly, you're being asked to direct a TikTok campaign because you're the "youngest person in the room."
It’s frustrating.
It's also kind of the new normal. The "polymath" worker is the trendy ideal in 2026, but let’s call it what it is: scope creep on steroids. When you find yourself asking you want me to do what?, it’s usually because someone above you has a fundamental misunderstanding of your skillset—or they’re just trying to save a buck on a freelancer.
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The Ethics of the Impossible Request
Sometimes the request isn't just weird; it's sketchy.
I’m talking about "can you just make these numbers look a bit more optimistic?" or "could you check out the competitor’s private Slack channel using this link someone sent us?" In these moments, the phrase you want me to do what? isn't just a question of capability. It’s a moral alarm bell.
Dr. Mary Gentile’s "Giving Voice to Values" framework has become a staple in business schools for a reason. Most people know when a request crosses a line. The hard part is saying "no" without sounding like you aren't a "team player." If a request feels illegal, it probably is. If it feels unethical, it definitely is. Trust that gut feeling.
Navigating the Tech-Driven Absurdity
Technology makes everything faster. It also makes everything stupider sometimes.
With the rise of integrated AI agents in 2026, the requests have shifted. Now, a manager might ask you to "train this model to sound exactly like me" or "supervise these 50 automated bots."
Wait. You want me to do what? Most people don't have a PhD in neural networks. Yet, the expectation is that we can all just "figure it out." This tech-gap is where the most anxiety-inducing requests live. You’re expected to be a prompt engineer, a troubleshooter, and a legal compliance expert all at once.
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Case Study: The "Social Media Takeover" Disaster
Look at what happened with a mid-sized fintech firm last year (let’s keep them anonymous to save them the embarrassment). A senior partner asked an intern to use an AI video generator to create a "fun" message for investors.
The intern asked, you want me to do what? The partner insisted.
The result? A deepfake that looked just slightly "uncanny valley" enough to cause a 4% dip in stock price over 48 hours as rumors swirled about a hack. The intern was blamed. The partner claimed they were just trying to be "innovative."
This is the danger zone. When the person asking doesn’t understand the tool they’re asking you to use, you are the one left holding the bag.
How to Say No Without Getting Fired
So, how do you handle it? How do you respond to you want me to do what? without burning the bridge down?
You have to pivot to "Yes, and..." or "No, because..."
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- The Clarity Trap: Often, the person asking is just vague. Ask for specifics. "Can you define what success looks like for this?" usually slows them down.
- The Resource Check: If you're asked to do something impossible, list what you'd need. "I can do that, but I’ll need a $20,000 budget and three months." Usually, the request vanishes.
- The Professional Boundary: "That falls outside of my current expertise, and I wouldn't want to provide a sub-par result for the company." It sounds fancy, but it basically means "I don't know how and I’m not guessing."
It's about leverage. If you're essential, you can push back. If you're new, you might have to eat some dirt, but keep a paper trail. Always. If someone asks you to do something "off the books," get it in an email. Or at least send a follow-up: "Just to confirm our conversation, you’ve asked me to..."
The "Culture" Excuse
"We’re like a family here."
Translation: We’re going to ask you to do things that have nothing to do with your job and expect you to do them for free. This is where the you want me to do what? vibe gets real personal. Picking up dry cleaning? Organizing the CEO’s kid’s birthday party? Staying until 10 PM to "brainstorm" when there's no actual project?
This is the "Hidden Curriculum" of business. It’s the unwritten rules that dictate whether you’re seen as a high-flyer or a clock-watcher.
But here’s the kicker: The people who say "no" to the truly ridiculous stuff often get more respect. They’re seen as having high "Executive Presence." They know their value. They don't let their time be treated as a limitless resource.
Actionable Steps for the Next Time You're Stunned
Don't just stand there with your mouth open. When that weird request hits, do this:
- Breathe for three seconds. Don't react. Silence is a power move. It makes the other person realize what they just said was probably insane.
- Verify the "Why." Ask, "What’s the primary goal we're trying to achieve with this?" Sometimes they haven't even thought it through. They might realize mid-sentence that the request is dumb.
- Check the legality. Seriously. In the age of 2026 data privacy laws, "just scrape that website" can land you in actual legal trouble. Mentioning "compliance" or "risk management" usually scares off bad actors.
- Offer an alternative. Instead of a flat no, say "I can’t do X, but I can do Y, which gets us to the same result." You look like a problem solver instead of a roadblock.
- Document everything. If the request persists and it feels wrong, keep a log. Dates, times, specific wording. You hope you'll never need it, but you'll be glad you have it if things go south.
The world of work isn't going to get less weird. If anything, as we lean harder into automation and "lean" teams, the requests will get more frantic and less logical. Understanding that you want me to do what? is a legitimate reaction—and knowing how to channel that reaction into a professional boundary—is the most important skill you can have this year.
Stop being the person who just says "okay" and starts drowning. Start being the person who asks the hard questions before the work begins. Your sanity, and your career, will thank you.