*reach out* vs ‘contact’!

There is an entry that’a way <– in case you didn't notice. Sometimes my entries go without notes, even when there isn't a bookmarking problem, so I'm not sure if it didn't show up as new or if it's content just didn't warrant a comment.

Promotion will be announced on Monday. I actually started getting very stressed about it yesterday. The employee who knows has been going out of her way to be proactive and seems to want to collaborate with me more. No, this is not my imagination – her behaviour is definitely different. It worries me a bit.

Boss’ wife (or whatever she is) told her a few things I had mentioned to her. They weren’t bad, but perhaps things that I should have addressed with the employee directly. Honestly, they were suggestions to Boss’ wife (or whatever she is) that would help the employee. Her one e-mail to me was, essentially, ‘mind your own business’.

Which was valid. The subject was unimportant and something that (even in my new role) is not my concern.

So, I’ll try that.

The problem is, I just don’t trust the employee … and I REALLY don’t trust Boss’ wife (or whatever she is) to not flip and decide to go after me. Remember, this employee used to be her ‘best friend’ and now is the centre of attention watching for everything she is missing and every ball she is dropping. But there is always a chance that she’ll recover the ‘friendship’ and be in a position to sabotage me.

It isn’t fun to be in Boss’ wife (or whatever she is)’s sights. I’ve been there and don’t want to be there again.

But, I know I will. That’s just the way that place works. Hopefully my work will be good enough that I’m able to avoid it for a long time … or whatever I’ve done wrong is minor and doesn’t escalate into a ‘witch hunt’ (her term).

Oh well. We’ll see what happens. I think I can do a good job, I just have to delegate more of the ‘clerical’ type work I do. If you knew some of the entry level jobs I do, you’d be shocked. Most of them should be done by the marketing assistant, but the marketing manager reacts very badly whenever we try to add things to her staff … so til now I’ve opted to just do them myself. That will have to change.

I suspect that the marketing manager and I may not be good friends soon.

It really is one of those friendships that developed because of our jobs, not because we have a lot in common… and has started to dwindle a bit over the last few years anyway. We have totally different perspectives on how certain things in the company should work. She vented to me about something one time and instead of agreeing with her, I explained why it needed to be done the way it was being done.

She wasn’t happy with me at all.

“I was looking to you for support!”

I can’t support something just because it was something she wanted. It just wasn’t the best way to do it.

Her ‘script’ is “we’re so busy … we’re totally maxed out … we can’t take on anymore …” She has become ‘the boy who cried wolf’ because a variation of these theme is stated in EVERY meeting. There must be some times when their department is a bit slower. They can’t ALWAYS be totally maxed out! And, frankly, I find it insulting when she complains to me about how busy she is when I am up to my eyeballs.

No one likes to challenge her because when we do she can be pretty scary: her eyeballs pop, the veins at her temples bulge and she gets all twitchy. Okay – a slight exaggeration perhaps. But, really. She scares me. I said something once that she took as an insult to her children and she just about snapped my head off.

Anyway. This aspect of it should be fun because I know Boss and his wife (or whatever she is) will expect me to address these concerns.

* * * * *

Have you noticed the trend to ‘reach out’ to people?

Like … “I ‘reached out’ to Harry to find out if he is available to meet next Thursday” or “I’ll ‘reach out’ to you next week”.

I just can’t embrace that phrase. I’d say “I ‘asked’ Harry if he’s available to meet next Thursday” or “I’ll ‘contact’ you next week” or “I’ll ‘follow-up’ with you next week”.

It must be an age thing because it seems to be the younger people who say this … or just me being contrary.

* * * *

This weekend I need to:

* get a library card – I want to get an audio book. My book on procrastination told me to listen to audio books while I’m working on big chore, so I figure this will be perfect when I’m puttering in the basement

* go visit my aunt

* take my comforter to the laundromat so I can wash it in an oversize machine.

* work in the basement

* maybe go to work and clean my office (for when my promotion is announced. I’m going to dress up on Monday too!)

* go out to dinner this evening (with my walking friend. A celebration following her conference last weekend)

* putter

* more puttering

* cook some meals

So, I must get at it.

* I WISH YOU WELL! *