Why Some People Become “The Go-To Person” at The Workplace Without Choosing To

There will always be that one person whom everyone goes to in order to clarify certain things or make decisions when it comes to working in teams. This role is usually never officially designated, and it happens in such a natural way that you can barely notice when it actually happens. It starts with little acts of helping and gradually becomes a habit when one person is involved.

A phenomenon like this has been researched in studies involving informal organizational roles. Consistent provision of available help results in one becoming a hub in organizational networks, according to research in the Academy of Management Journal (2017). No leadership positions are needed to reach this point; instead, one simply needs to develop certain characteristics like responsiveness and efficient processing of information. Others grow accustomed to relying on their reliability; in some cases, this happens subconsciously, almost without realizing what is happening. This is due to the informal nature of the role; thus, it is formed through everyday interactions rather than official positions. An implicit reinforcement mechanism that comes from recognition is also created since helpful behavior is generally viewed favorably, especially when it goes above and beyond the boundaries of responsibility. One may engage in this behavior automatically, out of habit, in some instances. An informal role can grow into a much bigger one; for example, one can be considered "the go-to person" in a team, as per research in Organizational Psychology Review (2019).

The difficulty with this particular dynamic lies in the lack of any boundaries surrounding it. Requests can be large or small and urgent or not, and may not be obvious externally. The position itself is held piecemeal, within conversation threads and impromptu chats that are seldom written down. The position simply gets woven into the process of work, and it is only afterward, once the position has been established, that the person occupying this dynamic will realize what has happened.