Bubbly

[wigglewhiz]

In the words of our favourite internet star of the moment (well... probably of 20 minutes ago, but since he's now featuring in TV advertising in New Zealand it's current for us) - WHAT DOES IT MEEEEEEEEEEEAN?!

Comments

[suzycat]

Jebus God. I actually do not KNOW how one gets the balance right, not having ever been a manager ... but bear in mind also you've not been there that long and they are probably still feeling you out just the same as you're feeling out exactly what your position allows you to do and at what pace.

Bubbly is a very strange way to describe a new MANAGER to people in a workplace. It almost sounds like one person said it and people picked it up almost as a joke, because "bubbly" and "Scot" do not really go together in the popular imagination, do they? I mean there's no bubbles in shortbread OR whiskey and if tartan was bubbly it would be seersucker. Perhaps they just wanted to ensure people didn't expect you to be dour or headbutt them on sight ... no, really. I've got nothing, it's quite weird.

Many of my female friends throughout my life have been objectively quite small people, 5ft2 and under, and they have seemed to split evenly between being *very* quiet and shy, or overcompensatingly loud and theatrical. Maybe the fact that you're neither confuses them?

[wigglewhiz]

if tartan was bubbly then would be seersucker

Now THERE's an image!!!

It does seem an odd descriptor for a manager. Of course, I'm not a HIGH LEVEL SRS manager or anything, but still. "Bubbly". It just makes me think of Manager Lite. Or ANYTHING Lite. Hee, you're so BUBBLY! I am competent. I affix you with the Stink Eye Of Supreme Competence, you git. o_O

I had an interesting meeting with the COO today so... I feel a bit better about my role and all at the moment, but still. BUBBLY. BAH! CURSES! ETC!

[suzycat]

You have excellent stink eye. THEY WILL LEARN!

Certain physical characteristics do add to judgement. When I was still giving the Demon the benefit of the doubt in her early student days *snerk* I remember saying 'the reason she seems like a snobby bitch is because she has that kind of Roman nose that makes her look haughty'. Which is true, though it is also true that she is a snobby bitch. But I had another dance friend like that, who was shy and insecure but actually really beautiful and people used to read her downcast eyes, lifted head and strong profile, coupled with her slender pre-Raphaelite looks, as extreme arrogance. When it was actually extreme shyness.

You are kind of fortunate in that I don't think your mouth naturally turns down much. You always tend to look a wee bit smiley. Whereas unless I actually am smiling I can look very grim due to the uber-turned-down IRA sniper mouth of my ancestors. But that, combined with weeness (because yeah, you're round but you're also wee) and quick, lively speech and jokiness might translate as ... well, not bubbly but fun and nice. Which might fool people into thinking "soft touch".