Who's work is impacted by yours?

Erika Hill — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Pause to think about which department your work affects next. Seeing the bigger picture helps you become more strategic. As you advance, your success could rely on how well you coordinate with other teams and handle complex tasks.

If you enter data, think about who relies on that information to make important decisions. If you design something, consider who needs to approve the budget. Identify your internal customers to understand how your work affects others. This helps you avoid working in isolation and makes sure you give the next person what they need.

Understanding how the company is connected helps you see it as a larger system. When you realize that a delay on your desk causes a bottleneck three departments away, you gain a natural sense of what to prioritize. This broader perspective allows you to speak more intelligently in meetings because you’re not just thinking about your own inbox. It shows that you care about the health of the entire organization.

Put these approaches into practice.

Let’s look at practical ways to find your internal customers and see how your work supports the next person in the process.

Careerlog: Work Hurdles

Who's work is impacted by yours?

Put these approaches into practice.