Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Need Advice...

I know a lot of you out there work outside the home. I have been working since I was 16 and the greatest majority of that time was for a Fortune 500 company. Meaning, I have always been in a big office with lots of people.

For those of you who can relate, you know there are always people that drive you bonkers, but that's okay - you kind of expect it and you have coworkers who feel your pain. Of course, you might just be that person for someone else, etc...

Anyway, I recently started a new job due to my fabulous (<-- read that word with extreme sarcasm) former employee relocating and leaving LOTS of us around the country needing to find new jobs. I digressed there... I did find another job - that I absolutely LOVE!

There is one drawback and where I am looking for your input. I now work in an office with one other person. This one other person is that weirdo I mentioned above. God bless him. I know he's as valuable and wonderful as any other being placed on this earth and I should see this in him other than the weirdness. But, I can't help myself.

This poor guy has no social skills. He tries to be nice and politely inquisitive, but it comes across somewhat smarmy and affected. And, when our boss (and owner of the company) calls him, he says things such as, "Yes, Chief, what can I do for you Chief?"

I mean, really, a grown man over the age of 50 (he's 54) calling his boss Chief??? Ugh!

How would you get PAST this?

Oh, I forgot the good part. This guy is the Sales and Marketing MANAGER. Not a good decision in my opinion, but I am not in charge. I am not in charge. I am not in charge.

(but I want to be!)

11 comments:

gary rith said...

Maybe the fellow could have an "accident".......

Lynda said...

lol Gary...you win already!

Unknown said...

I've worked with people like that and I never know what to do. I hate conflict, so I have a tendency to try and ignor things. I'm a coward!

Frizzy said...

I'm with Bobbi. HATE CONFLICT! I guess you could pray about this situation and/or ask him why he calls the boss Chief. Maybe they have an inside joke. The more you get to know him (though it may be hard) the more you may understand his ways and why he chooses them.

Aunt Julie said...

Ah, the Office Nerd. I guess you'll just have to grin and bear it--someone must like the fellow! And, if you have enough patience, even a Complete Nerd can have a couple of endearing qualities!

Sisterly Love Card Co said...

From your description, he sounds a lot like Dwight from The Office (love that show). You could always put his stapler in Jello...

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gary rith said...

YES! Stapler in JELLO!!!!!!!
Listen, Lynda, I don't work with people, I am self-employed at home but I have a story for you.
There is another potter out there who drives me NUTS and it is a funny story but I'll tell it another time (it has to do with her tongue, my ear, and her vomiting), but anyway, she always calls and bugs me. Caller ID is in the kitchen, not studio, and I ought to get it in the studio too.
But here is what I decided to do today. I can't get rid of her. The only way out is through, and I am a polite person, despite what I said up there. I will stay away from her and ignore her, but if she catches me, I will absolutely be polite and friendly, and never commit to anything. I was thinking it is the cotton candy approach: seems sweet enough, but there really isn't anything there.

Oh, I don't know anything, good luck to you, and I'll let you know if this works.
Then try a little jello "accident".

Lynda said...

You guys are great - praying and Jello might just do the trick!

Queen-Size funny bone said...

Tell him you would prefer he not address you as chief.Why let him drive you nuts.

carmilevy said...

I'd be inclined to do nothing. If this doofus insists on being a moron when the boss calls, one hopes the boss will at some point recognize his moron-like tendencies.

Darwinian stupidity eventually culls the herd. This guy's stupidity will put him in the same place, one surmises. Until then, pop the headphones on and let him bury himself.

In my past experience working with boobs who did not report to me, my efforts to help them were always fruitless. Better to let them drown on their own.

Now, if you ever find yourself LEADING this guy...different story. Then you can performance manage him into the ground.

Ronnica said...

Fortunately, I don't work with anyone like this (though I have before). I think I would have gone insane if I did...there's only 3 people in our company.

I DO however have to deal with guys like this at school. There's a few that I just can't stand. I mainly deal with it by avoiding them altogether (which may or may not be the correct response). Of course, that's much easier in a classroom than in a workplace.

 
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