Hard Work
Somebody at work just pissed me off.
It goes like that: for the last few weeks, I have been helping with some task to other people at work. Meaning, I’m doing it, and it’s my job, but it is not in the core business of my department or anything - it is just that I had some time so I am helping other people.
As it happened, After the Ein-Gedi trip 10 days ago I was a bit cold and stayed at home a few days (this is why I didn’t eventually go to Ein-Ovdat as promised; maybe in a few weeks. In the meantime I visited Caesaria last weekend - I may write about it on a different occasion). I also attended a social day my department held earlier this week; shortly speaking, the work is expected to delay a bit. Not that it delayed already, but I am a week or so behind what I internally planned.
Suddenly, all the world is uneasy. People start to ask me what’s going on, when it will be ready, and such things. I started to wander - what’s behind all the pressure? What happened?
Here is what happened: the guy that’s supposed to get my result is going on a travel. A three-month travel. To India. Starting at the end of next week. I can understand that he wants to clean his desk before his travel, but I don’t think that’s a good reason for me to work harder and advance things. Certainly not when I am not joining this travel, and when he’s fool enough to involve my boss instead of talking to me directly - when people use my bosses to apply pressure on me, it always fires back. It always has and it will probably continue: that’s not the way to get quicker work out of me.
Now, besides taking some rest and writing this post until I feel like continuing this task, I have this debate with myself: what should I do? Should I give the guy a preliminary thing, just to get him off my back, or should I delay the things for a week, till he’s off my back anyhow? Should I just ignore him and continue with what I do until it is ready, or should I give him a half-cooked product? Should I take a day or two off, or should I save the days for a big travel of my own? Should I react in any way, or should I just enjoy the attention?
Tough decisions. I think I am going to reflect on them on a l-o-n-g lunch I will shortly take.
November 29th, 2006 at 19:21
That is definitely annoying. I have annoying people at work too. My boss tells me to accept it and understand I can’t change everyone. Not on the first month or so.
Anyway, what I would do in your position is take the time I need to get what I’m doing right. Of course, if there’s a work deadline try to make it but don’t conform to someone else’s deadline because he’s going on vacation.
November 29th, 2006 at 20:19
As annoying as it is, you can be the better man here and just do it, and make sure he knows and your boss knows that you have made a special effort for this guy.
Why gain an enemy when you can make a friend?
I don’t like people going to my boss to ask for things or to apply pressure, but once done, it’s either do it and be done with it, or add more stress and anger to my life. And why let some guy who you don’t much care about muddle the relationship between you and your boss?
Consider this: A week from now you’ll have someone who’s very grateful, and this task will be behind you.
– Arik