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I Keep a Gratitude Journal

Today is a "day to remember" for me, because I made progress at work.

Yesterday I asked my colleague in another department to incorporate some comments I gave before to some documents he asked me to give comments on. This colleague had bad work attitude and manner as usual and told me that he had already sent it to another department and no more change was possible in a threatening manner. He blamed me, "why didn't you comment before I sent it out?!!!" I told him, "I have sent you, you missed 2 items! One on p.8, another in para. 5!" He said, "I had already answered you, para. 5 are facts that's why I leave it there." I said, "I checked, the source from that paragraph is from p.132 of the technical assessment, aggregated from different paragraphs there. They are all facts, so many things are facts but you should choose the relevant facts to write there. Now not only are they irrelevant, but some belong to another project which is even misleading to my project!!!" And then we argued over a drawing, which he conceded to change it as I requested.

Then I wrote an informative email to him, cc. his senior and other project team members, to formally ask him to incorporate my comments to the documents.

The whole phone conversation above was in a fierce manner. Because he s threatening, so I spoke to him with even louder voice and even more threatening manner. And it worked. He scolded me twice on phone before refusing to perform his duty. From then onwards I guess he wouldn't dare to be rude speaking to me again.

His senior saw I wrote long email so he asked the relevant project team members to met at his office this morning and discuss, which was easier to communicate than via emails.

My senior briefed me what to discuss before the meeting.

In the meeting went well. I clearly expressed things which need to be discussed, and what our concerns were. His senior is a much more normal person and explained their considerations much more clearly than the rude colleague mentioned above. We had consensus made during the meeting.

In the meeting I saw that rude colleague for the 1st time. He is a fat guy near his retirement. Then I understand why his work attitude is like this. He s notorious for his poor work attitude and he even swore at my colleague sitting next to me when she discussed her project with him on phone. This morning, when meeting in person, and in front of his senior, he behaved normal.

I know how to deal with this guy after this incident and after seeing him in person. A brainless person, which would increase my workload, eg. checking information which he should check, and giving very direct instructions for example, instead of saying "do not connect the footbridge to the project site", say "delete the two lines of the footbridge, add a line to terminate the footbridge here"; but at least he would yield when facing fiercer people and the right things for the project could be done.
pknein · 46-50, M
Email really is terrible for anything other than factual communication - the more it becomes human communication, it falters. There is also something about the anonymity of it that changes the way we interact with people- and in some cases results in people acting in a way they would never act in person. I'm glad to hear you it worked out for you. And gratitude journals work :)
Sssslm · F
@pknein yes it s important to record things in life to see the progress, especially for successful experiences which you can always refer back to :)
novembermoon · 51-55
It really shows the ugly side of human beings - that they only budge when higher authorities are involved, only when their rice bowl is at stake. I really hate this kind of work culture where people only do a proper job when higher-ups breathe down their necks. Your post is long. I hope you feel better after writing it.
Fernie · F
Interesting story...you had me right up until "He is a fat guy near his retirement. Then I understand why his work attitude is like this." You know no such thing,that is a petty and seriously judgmental thing to say. We only have your side anyway.

 
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