If you know me, you’ll know that I’m an impatient madam. Once I have made the decision to do something, I want to get it done, right now, with no holdups or delays or God forbid, anyone telling me it’s a crap idea. Its this impatience that leads me to do things like start the process of self hosting my blog at 11pm at night, despite my technical knowledge being limited to how to turn on a laptop. (that was a good plan, right?)
Given my impatient nature, one thing that makes me really, REALLY ranty is email exchanges like this (I’m paraphrasing the emails and not basing them on one specific incident, because this is a work issue, and I’m a PROFESSIONAL, y’know)
From Me
Dear XYZ,
I’ve been chatting with ABC in your organisation about the possibility of doing a project on DEF, and they suggested I contact you to clarify a few things before progressing. In the first instance, would you be able to let me know the answers to a few questions? *lists 3 questions*
Many thanks, Michelle
From Him
Dear Michelle,
This sounds like a great idea. Can you put a meeting in my diary to discuss in mid February?
Many thanks.
Oh my. SO MANY THINGS make me rant about this. Firstly, I’m not looking for a discussion. I’ve had that already (with your boss, by the way). Secondly, you could have answered the three simple questions (which are VERY simple) in your email, and then armed with the answers I’d be half way through putting a plan together by now. Third – MID MARCH? It’s the first week of February FFS. I want this to happen in early March (see ‘an impatient madam’, above).
And finally, sorry, but I absolutely hate it when people (usually men, actually) tell me to ‘book a meeting in their diary’.* What it says to me is ‘I want a meeting with you, but I am too important to book it myself, so can you just do the donkey work? Ta, love, and can you take tea and coffee orders while you’re at it, oh and just take some minutes and type them up and distribute them too?’
Phew. Feel loads better for getting that off my chest. Now I’m off to book a meeting. *grits teeth*
* DISCLAIMER if you are my boss, or my bosses’ boss, or anyone who is planning on paying me money in any shape or form, then I don’t at all hate it. In fact I’m on it straight away.
With thanks to Ranty Friday @MummyBarrow and #PoCoLo by @vicwelton – why not pop over to either and both and read a few more posts from MUCH better bloggers than me to get your Friday well and truly started?
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Oops. I am one of those people who says “book a meeting in my diary” because I am ruled by meetings… Is only way I can do everything. I am female and ask men and women to do it… No one offers to get me tea though 🙁
Doubtfulmum recently posted…My IVF Diary 3 – Egg Collection
Oh dear…perhaps you should drop some hints!!
I used to have an office job and this kind of thing wound me up too. Just have to grit your teeth while internally calling them some very choice swear words.
Great rant 🙂
Amelia Appletree recently posted…Gender Stereotypes: We have the power!
Oh I’m a practised teeth grittier!
Always hate it when people put unnecessary obstacles in the way.
Erica Price recently posted…Justin and the Knights of Valour Review and Giveaway
Me too – can you tell 😉
Why make life simple when you can make it difficult? I’m sure this is the mantra of so many bosses & organisations! Keep gritting those teeth hun x
Izzie Anderton recently posted…What’s Wrong With Teen Rebellion?
My teeth are well and truly gritted!
LearnerMother recently posted…Small Things #2
That made me laugh.
I work for a council. They are the undisputed champions of this sort of behaviour.
Sarah MumofThree World recently posted…Remembering Sochi
I know – I used to work for the council here and it was like wading through treacle!
Ah your post made me giggle. Not on the same scale, but I do check my e-mails about 30 times a day for that reply that I’m sure should only take 5 mins but can often take a whole week!
Anne recently posted…Kids In The Kitchen – Cheese Straws
Well, why reply in 5 mins when you can keep someone waiting a week or so *tries to stop self ranting all over again*
lol lol this sounded like me when i was working lol .. sorry 😉
Jaime Oliver recently posted…Getting fit and Healthy with #52LittleThings
Ha! You’d better book a meeting in my diary to discuss this, Ms O!
Aaargh! So frustrating. How is it possible to put a meeting in the diary of someone from another organisation (I’m just picturing you going into his office, whipping his diary off the desk in front of him, pencilling it in whilst he looks on slightly gobsmacked, and then waltzing out again in a sophisticated Dior breeze! Is that how its done? 😉
Sam recently posted…Word of the week: Happy!
Ha, the words sophisticated and me have never appeared in the same sentence before!!!
Isn’t it easier to deal with something simple there and then?! What an idiot!! And what a waste of time. Glad I’m not the only one who’s impatient and starts things at 11pm! Thanks for linking to PoCoLo x
Victoria Welton recently posted…Post Comment Love and Newbie Showcase 7th to 9th February 2014
It’s a pleasure – looking forward to #sofolo too!
You are very good being a teeth gritter. I don’t like the phone calls that say
“Can I get Mr ….”? in the tone that says ‘you are a mere female and I shall speak to you in the same way as I’d order a coffee” – drives.me.nuts
Jenny from Cheetahs In My Shoes and Just Photos By Me recently posted…Ranty Friday – St Albans City Station
This totally smacks of “have your people talk to my people” doesnt it?
I am with you on this one.
But like your last line, if anybody I work with reads this comment, I have totally had my PC hijacked and this is not me posting this comment
What a dufus. Hey, but should you ever ever have to make a cup of coffee for someone of that ilk, you can always, y’know, do a little flavoursome wee-wee in it?? I’m also told that dandruff makes a fantastic sugar substitute. For further suggestions about what to do about office bellends, check out this http://flossingthecat.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/dear-boss.html
Flossing the Cat recently posted…C is for Cats