New Roads. Changing Attitudes.
My part time job has turned into a full time position. Starting last week I'm full time working 3:30pm-Midnight. I'm still working in our family business as well. My husband and son make most of our signs and I do the finishing work.
Getting back to working in an office has been interesting. I'd dreaded the office drama that always seems to be going on. It doesn't matter if you work for the best company in the world, there is always at least one, and usually more, person that just can't help but cause a little drama.
I've heard the typical "Just between you and me..." statements. I'm pretty good at tuning those out. I like to know who I can trust and who is trouble, but I want to find that out for myself. I don't like gossip and won't believe anything until I see it for myself.
When I was younger I always got betrayed or used because I trusted everyone much too quickly. That is one great thing that aging does for you; if you pay attention you can learn to read people and prevent a lot of personal disappointment.
But sometimes you just don't see it coming. Sometimes the people are so good at it that you would never believe that they would ever take a swipe at you.
Sigh...maybe I'm not as good at reading people as I thought I was.
To my credit, I did kind of have a suspicion, but I didn't want to believe it. Today I found out. During a meeting a lady who has treated me wonderfully since I have been here hit me with a left jab. I had forgotten to do something that I am supposed to do. Something that is important, but not earth shaking. But even so, I should have remembered.
She had seen it a few days ago but waited until she got in the meeting with our supervisor until she bothered to point it out. I guess to make herself look good to our supervisor. I think it is because our supervisor was praising some of my ideas earlier this week and I think it may have made her feel a little threatened. I don't know.
Twenty years ago I would have been very upset by it all. I'm surprised by the fact that all I feel is sorry for her. I'm sorry that she has so much fear that she would find comfort at another's expense and such a need to build her own self up.
I have to examine my own work, not in respect to what she has to say, or even my supervisor, but how I feel about it. The only person that I can blame is myself if things don't meet the standards that I set for myself. No one can make me a failure. Only I can do that.
Tennessee road nighttime and in the rain
3 comments:
That was a low blow! I do think you are handling it well and I think you are reading the situation as it is. Two very strong skills there!
I was in a position once in which the two supervisors were fighting for a top position. One was more graceful about it as she had seniority and the other was running around badmouthing the competition to me. I finally told her, "I don't get paid enough to get involved with this. Unless you can get me a raise and a promotion right now, this minute, I ask you to please refrain from trying to pull me into it. Even then, I won't take sides. This is between you and Ms. X" Mouth agape, she spat out an apology. She didn't like me much after that but I could live with it. I hate things like that!
Thanks for your perspective. It always helps to have someone confirm that you handled a situation well. Everything that happens is an opportunity to learn to do better. I may be an old dog but I can still learn a few tricks! LOL.
They asked me this past week to go full time on the evening shift. I decided it take the position so I'm working 3:30 to midnight. So far, so good.
Those types are always around. I'd have had a hard time not asking her (in the meeting) why she waited 2 days to point it out in front of everyone instead of saying something right away so the error could be corrected. As you can imagine I'm still learning not to have such a hot temper.
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