One thing that annoys me beyond belief is people that demand things. Some people do it without realizing and others do it because they feel they have the right. Big, fancy title goes to their heads; you know the type.
Here’s an example. I worked with an executive, in a former life, that was famous for saying ‘do this’ or throwing things on your desk and saying ‘By 3pm or else’. Dude was rude, no two ways around it.
He was aware of how he came across and didn’t care. I asked him, in that polite HR way, why he was being an ass to everyone. Simple response was because I’m the boss.
Those that don’t realize it often come off as demanding, rude, aggressive, or unapproachable. Being told or shown a different way can do wonders for these people. Speaking from personal experience; I had two reviews, two years in a row, calling me aloof and unapproachable. After asking around most found it was the words I choose to use. I was demanding and I sucked for it. No emails or verbal communication comes from me now without a moment of thought.
In the office we all have deadlines and stresses. I don’t always know yours and you probably don’t know mine; same goes for any office cohabitation. Take a moment to think before you act and read before you send. A simple ‘please’ or ‘can you’ will go a long way.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not too demanding (that I can tell), but I don’t do a lot of talking during the day other than with one other coworker. It sometimes makes others feel like I’m ignoring, them, but it’s just that the work of the other guy intertwines with mine so much that we have to talk about it often.
Taking a look at how you respond to others is a good exercise. Definitely worth a few minutes of your time.
I asked a supervisor once why he was such an aloof ass (he was a friend of mine from years past– so I could get away with it–) He believed that being “nice” showed weakness– and would lead to employees taking advantage of him, the department and thier positions. I asked him “So how much money is it costing you with so much turnaround in employees?” He didn’t want to– or couldn’t–give me an answer.
I also did an experiment in the past as to why demanding bosses want something “Done by 3pm or else!” — usually it meant they didn’t trust his/her own employees to get it done without him/her there (and they had a “tee time” at 3:30pm usually). Why surround yourself with incompetent people– or people you “think” are incompetent?? Talk about unnecessary added stress—