"It's a cult. A perky cult."--Julia Sugarbaker. I got bad evals from every boss but one for not being perky enough. One, severely ADD and an outgoing charmer who had 87 plates spinning at all times and never followed through on 85 of them, discounted every bit of plate-rescue and resolve I did for him because I didn't puppy over every volunteer who came through the door.
I did have a former boss call me out of the blue one day to thank me profusely for doing my job for her. She'd been kicked upstairs and had walked into an office situation nearly exactly like the one I took on at hiring and straightened out in six months. My "rigid" procedures insured our office never went that way again. I don't know what happened after I left. I never looked back. Ptui. I agree with smonster--fake it till you make it is probably your best bet. It's unfortunate, but true.
Vortex, I hope the new job gives you a respite from all the bumps and bruises you're suffering now, and also opens up avenues for an even newer and betterer job.
shrift, I'm sorry to hear your news. Good luck with relative-herding.
Nora, I'm wishing you a good resolution on this situation. It's been hanging over you long enough. I hope a good solution comes out of this.
I'm funny- bubbly and outgoing at home but down-to-business at work. I rarely make friends at work. Why can't we all just do our jobs?
I have known coworkers who don't want to go home because they like the people at work much more than their own families--and at home they have to make dinner and do laundry and all that. One person didn't even take vacations, because they'd have to deal with family stuff rather than the fun work stuff.
I like my job. In general, I have respect for my co-workers. and I have a few friends from work. But I hope I never think work is better than home
I'm having steamed zucchini for breakfast. om nom nom nom.
I realized after I wrote that that I have had two jobs where I totally had a blast working. But still, the occasional shenanigans did not interfere with productivity. much.
My best job ever was working for a woman everybody else found difficult and unpredictable. We had a telepathic relationship, finished each other's sentences, she'd put her hand out and I'd slap the file she needed into it, I'd open my mouth to ask and she'd tell me to take some time off.
Looking back, I can see that she was difficult for most people. But she treated me like a grownup, made me part of a team, demanded the use of my strengths and opened up new ones for me to stretch, and took up the slack for my shortfalls. She spoiled me utterly for working for anybody else. Demanding, difficult, exhausting, but also exhilarating, challenging, and rewarding. I miss that. I miss her. She too, got kicked upstairs.
That happened to a lot of my bosses, actually. Hmmm.
You made them look great!
Yeah, my best boss everyone thought was a complete asshole, but in reality, he was an efficient and effective manager who was successful at herding a lot of cat types (actors, mainly) where they needed to be to do their jobs well. He would curse you up one side and down the other if you screwed up doing something stupid, but never said word one to me the one time I screwed up, but not for stupidity. AND he would tell you, in no uncertain terms, when you did well. Completely fair, you never wondered about his communication. He was just brusque because he needed you to act promptly and he brooked no nonsense.
