Thursday, February 28, 2008

Who's "They" ?

Ever have one of those days at work, when you run into walls at every corner with a project, or a way of doing things?

The person in front of you giving the cheapest / most insincere generic responses in the world?

Me:"Why can't we consider this?"
X: "They wouldn't allow it"

Me:"And what did you do?"
X: "Nothing. That's the way they decided to do it."

Me:"Why? What was the reason?"
X: "Don't Know. I made the same recommendation as you, but they didn't take it"

Problems:
1. Overuse of "They". Passing the buck. The blame's now on someone else. Come On! How big is the company? Either you had the said discussion and SHOULD know what "They" really thought, OR you didn't even discuss the matters with "They" at all - chicken shit! Maybe you didn't even meet with "They" at all! You imagined it all in your dollhouse for an office.

2. Failure to explain decisions or respond to different ideas / reasoning. Apparently, "they" are very good at making decisions that some people are incapable of comprehending. Who's at fault? The decision maker or the messenger? Both, for hiding behind the facade of a layered / matrix organization.

3. Complacency. Smother creativity, brew indifference and disownership. It's OK, because someone else higher than me made the call. Even though I had some different ideas, I'll do what I am told because (a) if it doesn't work, the manager will not be asked to take the fall (blame it on group think, changing environment or other external forces) and (b) I am not responsible

Solution: (1) Go to the gym and sweat it out. Then thank the Gods for it's only a job and that I do not own the business. (2) Reflect (like now) and Revert to serene state. In fact, why even sweat it in the first place? other than good excuse to pound the treadmill or the stairmaster? After all, "they" too only work there. Bless us poor souls all.

(3) Wait to cherish the moments when I am in the company of people who enjoy their jobs (yup, it's allowed), actually take initiatives to do things well, based on what they see, hear and believe. I will not go on with life at work or play not knowing what others, "They" think or feel and will not let myself nor "They" make decisions for the greater group without getting to the "why?"

3 comments:

wendy said...

Are you feeling better now that you got your frustration out? That's what I like about blogging.

Shirley said...

Yes. It's a good way to vent.

Salad said...

>_<....