Something that I find (morbidly) fascinating about having worked at senior-ish levels, and now working at far less senior levels for health reasons:
The utter lack of context when you get asked to do something, and the offense caused when you push back and say "what is it you're actually trying to get to?"
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There's a coupla ways of asking for information from people whose job it is to actually get you that info.
1) "Hi, can you send me a list of all the products that sit under category Y"
Absolutely fucking rubbish. Especially if I don't know you. Chances of you asking the correct question are fairly limited, but if I send you the literal request, I'm going to get a "actually, can you add in....?"
2) "Hi, I work in department A. I'm trying to answer question B, for reason C. Could you send me product list Y? Does that work?"
Better. Gives me an in, and a reason to come back and say "Look, based on previous experience, do you want H, I and J, too? Most people do."
And I can actually be helpful.
