A Day with Stubborn Colleagues
by I am pretty sure that there’s always one stubborn co-worker in every department, one that tests your temper and makes you wish for bad things to happen to him.
He is always there. In every office, in every department, there is always that one guy (or err, girl) who seems to be always lost. It’s either he is pretending to be dumb to irritate the s**t out of you or he’s really clueless. He may have been applying for a totally different department but for some reason, landed in yours. Or, he doesn’t like what he’s doing – he really wanted to become an astronaut but his parents insisted he take up Accountancy. Duh! Who cares about his failed dreams anyway? The thing is, he is being paid to do his job, not to stare at walls or ask every stupid question his little brain can muster. Am I being mean or do you share the same fate as I have?
Quick Run-through of their Stupid Little Acts
1. The Opposite of a Know-It-All
I know this guy who came in about ten months after I was hired but he’s actually more senior in age and in tenure in the company (he came from another subsidiary). The problem? One, he can’t grasp things as easily as normal people can. When he first got in, I taught him the basics and I expected him to take down notes so he has something to refer to the next time he does his monthly tasks. Anyway, he didn’t. And for the past four years that he’s with us, he still can’t work on his own. I don;t knwo how he manages to ask the most absurd questions that don’t really require an answer. Logic and reason will do, or errr, should have.
2. The Guy with Seniority Complex
He’s that older guy who can’t seem to accept the fact that despite you being younger than him, you are in fact, a better employee than he is. You come in late, he’s been with the company for years, yet he ends up being your subordinate. What’s irritating about him? He doesn’t give you the reports you need, or he does so after you’ve asked for it for ten times already. You tell him to let you review his reports before he gives it your boss, instead, he consults another co-worker or goes directly to your boss. The complication? Whenever his attempts at making a good and comprehensive report fails, your boss sees it as incompetence on your part. Why? He thinks you’ve checked tthe report and have actually OK’d it for submission.
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Post CommentRana Sinha
On March 19, 2009 at 3:13 am
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. As I read, some points came to mind.
Who defines what is ’stubborn’ behaviour?
Does having a different viewpoint and not totally falling in line with others mean ’stubborn’ behaviour?
If it does, then long live stubborn behaviour.
I’ve found that some people are difficult just by nature, but there is a reason for their behaviour. Knowing the reason (or at least some kind of hypothesis) helps me see the other person as a human being.
As a manager, I found that by encouraging people to ‘ask the most stupid questions’, we often find new ways of doing things. Asking a question might also mean ‘look, I’m here. Notice me.’
zelliot
On March 20, 2009 at 4:35 am
hi rana, thanks for the read! no, i dont mena those people with different points of view. these people actually are the ones who shed light to things most of us often miss. they add value to what we do. i think being stubborn is more of an attitude rather than a way of thinking. thanks again!