If one more person says "Welcome to management!", I will punch them in the kidney.
I see now why it's so very important to pay anyone in a supervisory position more money. Not just because it's more responsibility. Oh no. It's much worse than that. It's the whining. I am sufficiently shocked at the sheer amount of whining that 30 people women are capable of. This is, hands down, the worst part of my job. I used to like these people, and I'm trying not to let this new discovery of them get in the way of my liking them.
I have discovered the oversensitive: "She ignored me when I tried to talk to her and I am taking it PERSONALLY." I explained to her (gently) that the doctor in question is generally highly focused and also highly oblivious to the people around her, and that she just needs to assert herself, or she's going to walk around being offended 24/7.
I have discovered the cowardly: "You actually want me to TELL her that *** bothers me? Why can't you do it?" My response, in slightly different phrasing, was "Because I'm not your mommy and you're not 4 years old."
I have discovered the "never-complains-but" person: "I hate to bother you, and I swear I don't usually say anything, except . . . (insert 10 more disclaimers here)" OH MY GOD STOP WITH THE DISCLAIMERS AND JUST SPIT IT OUT.
I have discovered the hypocrite: "None of the other MAs EVER help me with my job, and when I ask, they give me attitude!" I thought that was pretty rich, coming from someone in danger of losing her job for sheer laziness and being ludicrously slow.
Generally speaking, I feel I've handled each situation pretty diplomatically, only rolling my eyes on the inside. I'm trying not to become too jaded, because most of the time, whatever I'm hearing really is from someone who doesn't usually say a lot - just feels like it to me. So my method of coping is essentially to put the accountability for "action" back onto the person who's complaining (unless it's super serious) and then to never think about it again. Got a problem with another employee? Inform her that you plan to have a chat with her with the supervisor present and then send a request for a meeting with the 3 of us. (9 times of 10, I never get the request for the meeting.) Problem with a doctor or midwife? Try to talk to them yourself, and if they don't respond well, send an email to myself and the manager - and copy the doctor/midwife in question - explaining your concerns. (Only once has someone gone through with this.) An employee told me that people were complaining in clinic because they felt a decision of mine was unfair. I told her that I can't do anything about it until I hear directly from them. Assertiveness is what gets rewarded, end of story. And truly, I've been anything BUT intimidating or forbidding when it comes to people telling me what they think.
I feel like my job is big enough without chasing all the petty complaints I hear, and I don't really know any better way to deal with this. Thoughts? (Laurie, how about you?) Anyone else have a different method of dealing with this?
I have discovered the oversensitive: "She ignored me when I tried to talk to her and I am taking it PERSONALLY." I explained to her (gently) that the doctor in question is generally highly focused and also highly oblivious to the people around her, and that she just needs to assert herself, or she's going to walk around being offended 24/7.
I have discovered the cowardly: "You actually want me to TELL her that *** bothers me? Why can't you do it?" My response, in slightly different phrasing, was "Because I'm not your mommy and you're not 4 years old."
I have discovered the "never-complains-but" person: "I hate to bother you, and I swear I don't usually say anything, except . . . (insert 10 more disclaimers here)" OH MY GOD STOP WITH THE DISCLAIMERS AND JUST SPIT IT OUT.
I have discovered the hypocrite: "None of the other MAs EVER help me with my job, and when I ask, they give me attitude!" I thought that was pretty rich, coming from someone in danger of losing her job for sheer laziness and being ludicrously slow.
Generally speaking, I feel I've handled each situation pretty diplomatically, only rolling my eyes on the inside. I'm trying not to become too jaded, because most of the time, whatever I'm hearing really is from someone who doesn't usually say a lot - just feels like it to me. So my method of coping is essentially to put the accountability for "action" back onto the person who's complaining (unless it's super serious) and then to never think about it again. Got a problem with another employee? Inform her that you plan to have a chat with her with the supervisor present and then send a request for a meeting with the 3 of us. (9 times of 10, I never get the request for the meeting.) Problem with a doctor or midwife? Try to talk to them yourself, and if they don't respond well, send an email to myself and the manager - and copy the doctor/midwife in question - explaining your concerns. (Only once has someone gone through with this.) An employee told me that people were complaining in clinic because they felt a decision of mine was unfair. I told her that I can't do anything about it until I hear directly from them. Assertiveness is what gets rewarded, end of story. And truly, I've been anything BUT intimidating or forbidding when it comes to people telling me what they think.
I feel like my job is big enough without chasing all the petty complaints I hear, and I don't really know any better way to deal with this. Thoughts? (Laurie, how about you?) Anyone else have a different method of dealing with this?