I think some of this is the ask versus guess thing?
I am a guesser, and I actually tell the students that I manage that when I say "You might want to do X", I mean "You need to do X".
Angel: Lorne, you're— Lorne: Reliable as a cheap fortune cookie? Angel: I was gonna say a guy with good contacts…
'Shells'
Natter 73: Chuck Norris only wishes he could Natter
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Sophia Brooks - Feb 26, 2015 10:00:50 am PST #20599 of 30000
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here
-t - Feb 26, 2015 10:03:39 am PST #20600 of 30000
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
Oh, interesting, Sophia.
Jesse - Feb 26, 2015 10:04:51 am PST #20601 of 30000
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Although it took me months to realize that when she says "feel free to..." she really means "DO THIS." As in "feel free to remove the comment boxes before you return the file" means "you should remove the comment boxes etc."
It's funny, because I feel like I have the opposite problem: When I ask colleagues (not people who report to me) if they can do a certain thing by a certain time, I am actually asking if that is possible, not giving them an order. I am always surprised when they take it as an order.
Jesse - Feb 26, 2015 10:06:10 am PST #20602 of 30000
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Oh man, Sophia -- that is totally what I'm talking about!
Lee - Feb 26, 2015 10:07:26 am PST #20603 of 30000
The feeling you get when your brain finally lets your heart get in its pants.
Lee! Haven't checked my email yet but - today like by 5?
Okay!
Maria - Feb 26, 2015 10:11:03 am PST #20604 of 30000
Not so nice is that I'm about to ruin a Friday morning for a bunch of people because of a series of unfortunate events and an upset foreign government. - shrift
Hah. Yep. I'm totally a guesser, though if someone is upfront about being an asker, I can codeswitch.
tommyrot - Feb 26, 2015 10:11:49 am PST #20605 of 30000
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Good Luck, ND!
lcat - Feb 26, 2015 10:22:25 am PST #20606 of 30000
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.
I am guilty of the "You may want to do X" also but generally it is when I want the person to do X but there isn't a specific process or procedure guideline that requires them to do X that I can point to. I also used to use the "feel free" or "you can" language when I wanted to them to do something but knew it wasn't really critical and was trying really hard not to micromanage. When I'm supervising people in a job that I have a lot of experience with and can do well, providing feedback that is helpful without being obnoxiously directive is tricky. Knowing all of this about myself is why I always tell new hires to ask specific questions if they don't understand something I tell them - I know how frustrating it is to not know what is expected.
Sophia Brooks - Feb 26, 2015 10:22:54 am PST #20607 of 30000
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here
I am much better about dealing with askers now that I understand it, and I actually try to assess my student workers to figure out which they are and I try to give really clear directions to them.
I got better at everything once I realized not everyone in the world thought exactly as I did!
Toddson - Feb 26, 2015 10:24:26 am PST #20608 of 30000
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"
In totally unrelated news, this is probably good news for someone.