Speaking indirectly to employees 1

[Plasmech]

Does anyone run into this:

completly random example here...

Boss thinks you're spending too much time on the phone (again, this is a very "randomized" example). Instead of confronting YOU about your phone time, he complains to you about your co-worker John Doe who works in another facility spending too much time on the phone. Really makes him out to be a bad employee.

First of all, what is this behavior called? Is there a better name for it than "indirect speaking"? Some sort of very transparent smokescreen...

-Plasmech

Mechanical Engineer, Plastics Industry

 

[monkeydog]

19 responses (including the OP's) and 15 names.
Plasmech, which name did you pick?
I am partial to weakleadershipobia.

 

[Plasmech]

I've got all the names on 3x5 cards, going to have a drawing at work tomrrow


Need to find a suitable hat first.




-Plasmech

Mechanical Engineer, Plastics Industry

 

[Rjeffery]

Tickle,
I prefer to have someone deal with me in a straight forward manner. the situation described seem to make the boss out to be a weasle. Plasmech please add "Weasle" to the list.

The best way to test something is to squeeze it, slowly, until it breaks!

 

[jistre]

If this kind of thing keeps up and someone loses a job or quits because of the behavior, add "defendant" to the list.

 

[Sideswiper]

Geez, immediately three courses of action would come to mind:

1) Agree enthusiastically about how badly your coworker is abusing phone use in the office, and then not change anything about my own behavior.

2) Act as if the funniest thought just occured to you, and say "Well I'll be, he must really be a problem if he uses the phone more than me!".

3) Tell him, "I'm pretty sure you're talking about my phone use. I appreciate that you're bringing this to my attention and I'll try to get it under control. I'm depending on you to let me know if my behavior here is ever unacceptable. I know you need to be careful with how you give constructive criticism to some people, but I hope we can have a more direct relationship since I thrive on direct feedback."

If I like my job, option 3. If I'm tolerating my job, option 1. If I'm looking for an exit, option 2.

 

[high0nfire]

Is your manager's name Michael Scott? Did he work at Dunder Miflin in Scranton, PA?

If he does a lot of stuff like that, he really is a poor manager. He'll probably throw you under the bus one day if possibly gets him out of a jam. I would make myself crazy wondering about all the trash talking he probably does to my co-workers about me, true or not. What a fun work environment!

 

[ivymike]

do people actually watch that show?

 

[monkeydog]

I was clueless

 

[Plasmech]

What show are we talking about?


-Plasmech

Mechanical Engineer, Plastics Industry

 

[TheTick]

WHat show? I don't know. Google doesn't have any hits under "Dunder Mifflin". At least, I'm fairly sure it wouldn't. I'm too lazy to check.

 

[TenPenny]

They have a very well done website, very impressive looking firm.

 

[UBbaja]

That show is great. The situations are so real, and hillarious. I enncounter stuff like that evreyday.

 

[cvg]

http://www.theofficeforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1749

 

[SomptingGuy]

When the original series started in the UK there was no build-up or advertising that I can remember, and no big names. People got to it first by idle channel surfing, then by word of mouth. Has "Extras" aired outside of the UK yet?


- Steve

 

[vc66]

Yea I've seen Extras on HBO. Hilarious.

V

 

[IRstuff]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Scott_(The_Office)

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[KENAT]

Does the manager realize this technique is far too subtle to be effective on most Engineers anyway;-).

My boss tells me someone from our dept spends too much time on Eng Tips I'll be trying to work out what their handle is, not worrying that he means me!

(Note above is humorous, I'm not quite that socially inept)

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[monkeydog]

Quote "(Note above is humorous, I'm not quite that socially inept)"

Are you saying we are so socially inept or linear thinking that we would not have seen that as humor?

(that was ment in fun too)

 

[KENAT]

I'd say something about some people needing it spelt out to them but as this seems to follow nationalistic trends, and I don't want to offend an entire nation based on a gross generalization, then I decline to comment.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[monkeydog]

Ahhh management material/