You know the saying, "When life throws you lemons, just make lemonade outta 'em". Well, at certain points, life does pelt me with lemons. Very sour ones. Loads of them. But what happens when I'm not exactly armed with a juicer to deal with the yellow citrus fruit?
That's the question I'd like answered.
It sure felt like this question was plaguing me for almost the whole of this week.
I reported to work due to official involvement in certain school and departmental events over a course of a few days. Within these days and prior to these events, I've had to endure:
1. A last-minute instruction for me to go through a few pages of notes designed to explain what is to be expected for an event that involves a large group of people but which this same group of people was clueless about, simply because the one person who's organising it does not like to conduct any meeting or briefing and is always vague about her ideas even when approached about her event personally. What's up with that? I mean, if you organise something and require the presence and assistance of so many of your colleagues, isn't it just right for you to let them know beforehand what they are expected to do and the rationale for certain decisions? Why keep people guessing till the day of the event? And is it fun to send out an email over the weekend, telling your co-workers to read the attached notes on a Sunday before the event on Monday, when previously you refused to provide concrete details about the event when asked?
2. Biased decisions that promote somebody's own interest on the pretext of wanting to benefit several other groups. This involves pressurising these other groups to conform and be involved when the one who stands to gain the most is none other than that person herself.
3. Lack of respect for fellow colleagues. I never like anyone treating me or any of our colleagues as a child or student who has to be talked down to. I'm not the confrontational type, so you never have to deal with me in an intimidating manner. I am a professional at work. I am an adult. If you need something from me, speak to me like one. And don't go putting all the smiley emoticons in your SMSes when trying to resolve a work conflict when you don't actually mean them. It just goes to show how much of a moron you think I am, not understanding the sharp daggers you are throwing at me behind those pretentious smiles. Oh, and don't go demanding people to be present for events that don't actually require their contribution at all when everyone is so busy with other work commitment. It just makes people feel plain foolish sitting there and thinking of how much they could have accomplished if they were elsewhere.
4. Job confusion and power struggle. I used to know exactly what I'm in charge of, and how to go about doing my job. Even if I stumble at first, I will find my way eventually and get things done. Now, with the absence of an HOD, I'm assigned to take over part of the HOD's job, but someone else in the department likes to claim that she is the 'biggest'. Not that I've anything against that. In fact, if you wish to take over the leadership role, by all means, go for it. But don't keep saying that you make all the decisions and yet keep coming to me and telling me that I'm in charge when you need someone to clear some rather unpleasant duties. You obviously enjoy the limelight of being regarded as the head, so why point the finger at me and say I'm the one in charge at times, just because you don't want to do certain things. So now who's doing what exactly? I no longer know. But I WILL find out. I need to, or the line will always be blur.
There are several other 'lemons' that I can think of, but the above beats the rest. More days of 'lemons' will come, I know. I certainly dread the thought of bidding farewell to my days as a stay-home mum and having to be physically present at work, facing people who make the workplace a less pleasant one. I can only hope that I will be able to handle this transition well, so that I can still return home a happy wife and mother at the end of the day. An unhappy mum makes a bad mum, and can do more damage than good for her baby.
It's time to start building my juicer.
I reported to work due to official involvement in certain school and departmental events over a course of a few days. Within these days and prior to these events, I've had to endure:
1. A last-minute instruction for me to go through a few pages of notes designed to explain what is to be expected for an event that involves a large group of people but which this same group of people was clueless about, simply because the one person who's organising it does not like to conduct any meeting or briefing and is always vague about her ideas even when approached about her event personally. What's up with that? I mean, if you organise something and require the presence and assistance of so many of your colleagues, isn't it just right for you to let them know beforehand what they are expected to do and the rationale for certain decisions? Why keep people guessing till the day of the event? And is it fun to send out an email over the weekend, telling your co-workers to read the attached notes on a Sunday before the event on Monday, when previously you refused to provide concrete details about the event when asked?
2. Biased decisions that promote somebody's own interest on the pretext of wanting to benefit several other groups. This involves pressurising these other groups to conform and be involved when the one who stands to gain the most is none other than that person herself.
3. Lack of respect for fellow colleagues. I never like anyone treating me or any of our colleagues as a child or student who has to be talked down to. I'm not the confrontational type, so you never have to deal with me in an intimidating manner. I am a professional at work. I am an adult. If you need something from me, speak to me like one. And don't go putting all the smiley emoticons in your SMSes when trying to resolve a work conflict when you don't actually mean them. It just goes to show how much of a moron you think I am, not understanding the sharp daggers you are throwing at me behind those pretentious smiles. Oh, and don't go demanding people to be present for events that don't actually require their contribution at all when everyone is so busy with other work commitment. It just makes people feel plain foolish sitting there and thinking of how much they could have accomplished if they were elsewhere.
4. Job confusion and power struggle. I used to know exactly what I'm in charge of, and how to go about doing my job. Even if I stumble at first, I will find my way eventually and get things done. Now, with the absence of an HOD, I'm assigned to take over part of the HOD's job, but someone else in the department likes to claim that she is the 'biggest'. Not that I've anything against that. In fact, if you wish to take over the leadership role, by all means, go for it. But don't keep saying that you make all the decisions and yet keep coming to me and telling me that I'm in charge when you need someone to clear some rather unpleasant duties. You obviously enjoy the limelight of being regarded as the head, so why point the finger at me and say I'm the one in charge at times, just because you don't want to do certain things. So now who's doing what exactly? I no longer know. But I WILL find out. I need to, or the line will always be blur.
There are several other 'lemons' that I can think of, but the above beats the rest. More days of 'lemons' will come, I know. I certainly dread the thought of bidding farewell to my days as a stay-home mum and having to be physically present at work, facing people who make the workplace a less pleasant one. I can only hope that I will be able to handle this transition well, so that I can still return home a happy wife and mother at the end of the day. An unhappy mum makes a bad mum, and can do more damage than good for her baby.
It's time to start building my juicer.
