That's the word i'll like to use to describe my department head. At least that the impression he gave me during our conversation when we had lunch together today.
Some of you guys who happened to be my colleagues will know that there is no such thing as a free lunch with my department head ~ there's always a catch, always an agenda. Hmm, for those who aren't my colleagues, let me recount what conversed during the lunch and you decide if the heading is appropriate..
My dept head invited me for lunch and this is probably the fourth or fifth time he did during these five years (since i've been working under him). Most of the time, he used it as opportunity to dish out advices based on his very own life experiences. Some of the advices are good, some are bad but no matter what i'm grateful he shared.
What really grinds on me was the fact he tends to be very critical and judgmental about people. Today was no exception. Haha, i should have seen it coming... Guess he wanted to know why i don't mix around in the office especially within the dept anymore. Admittedly, i've not been talking in the office lately especially for the last one year plus.
Asked me how my parents and siblings are doing. Told him family's doing fine. Here's the big question - he finally asked how am i coping with work and how i felt about the job rotation he intiated about 1 to 2 months back. i'm supposed to switch job parameters with my senior executive. Btw, i'm a staff at support level. She's in a senior supervisory post.
Told him in my opinion, the switch came at a very bad timing. A time when we are closing the books for the year, preparing the docs for audit and various submissions. In the midst of that, we are supposed to guide each other in our new job aspects when we are already up to the neck, already doing overtime. Told him i pity my senior exec as she's the one who has to juggle all these handing taking over as she's in the supervisory position. All these could be easier if we waited till april or so which is our "lull period".
Well, he differed. Told me to see it as a challenge and he salutes my exec cos she's doing pretty well. He believes leadership quality is brought forth in times of adversity. So, she's really shinning right now esp when her dad is very sick and is in need of constant medication and care. He said, "Even though i'm sure there are times when she would like to spend more time with her dad but she has such qualities and ownership of her work that she will complete the work no matter how."
Yup, no matter how is really the word - i left office at 10.30p.m and she's still working. Pity pity.. This when i felt self-righteous is the word to describe him. Did he ask if she sees it as challenge or a burden? So, did he decidedly play big brother and choose for her? Maybe she does see it as a challenge but from what i gathered, i seriously doubt so. If it's really a challenge and she finds it interesting, guess she wouldn't be lamenting and banging table away on a regular basis...
A really understanding boss will not increase her work load at this junction but rather choose a more appropriate timing to ease the change in a much smoother manner. What appalls me was the fact he knew she had problems at home, needed a more stable work timing and yet decidedly add on these unnecessary work. She doesn't even need him to take any load off her, all she needed was just no more addition to the tons she had to begin with. I just pray that things will have a better turn for her. =)
No matter how appalling it was, there's always something to be learned from it. If we are ever in such a situation, i think we should try to put ourselves in their shoes, ask and listen to what they have to say before deciding what's possiby best for them and not to be too self-opinionated in our thinking. Afterall, this also part of the mindfulness training. Mindfulness of others. =)
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