2 posts tagged “personality improvement”

Like the one-off wins one has in life.

Remember the other day I identified my "take no prisoners" personality trait as perhaps needing a little buffing up? Well, it exercised itself today in a dangerous manner.

My boss and I we're vigorously 'debating' the rights and wrongs of a particular approach to credit analysis on a particular deal. I disagreed with his position and he disagreed with mine, but the crowning glory was his statement that "well, you can argue with me all you like, but I'm right". Red rag to a bull. My response?

"Yes, well, you're always right, Philip" Fuck! Too late, it was out. Once those words form and pass your lips, there's no going back. As I said, I don't regard that part of my personality as a liability. It's there and not much I can do about it. I've carried it 50 years now, and dammit.....why should I tolerate arrogant idiots? Why should anyone?

His response? "In that case, I'll take the file back and you should consider your future here"  Oh yes....I should point out that I don't come off probation until 10 March.

So......I did consider my future. Had a smoke while doing so and decided that if he doesn't want my help in his business, then he should come right out and say so. I decided to ask that precise question. I came back into the office to be greeted with, "Look, can we start again?" and a hand offered in, if not friendship, at least the spirit of conciliation. I took his hand and said, "Surely"  We're now back on an even relationship. I seriously doubt his pedantic 'always right' attitudes will change because he's my age, my experience level and doubtless of a similar makeup from a personality perspective. I know I'm a much more relaxed individual, but then, I'm not in business for myself either. I just roll up, do my thing and piss off home. I like it that way. I also like......nay, require...... a little respect as a 35 year finance professional. I have opinions and I expect to be allowed to express them without retribution. I'm a professional or at least try hard to be. If we can all operate on the same basis, I'm sure things will work out.

Yes, it IS the little things in life that make it all worthwhile. The little victories, even if it does take a minor infarction to get there.

What aspect of your personality could use a little work?

Yes, as the title says........if I absolutely HAD to choose something, it would be my inate inability to suffer idiots. I don't regard that part of my personality as a deficiency, but it has created hurdles for me in the past. I'm not one to take a back seat when confronted by obtuse, ignorant, arrogant, selfish people. I particularly can not tolerate control freaks. Such people, to me anyway, clearly have deep-seated inadequacy issues if they can't delegate to others or admit that other people can take responsibility for their own actions.

My boss is one of the latter. It's currently taking me all my efforts to treat his anal-retentive, pedantic manner as amusing, but I'm losing the battle. We're the same age, have the same experience level but different views on lending, credit analysis and people management. In addition, it's his business I'm working in, but just how long does one have to suffer being double-checked on tasks one has been doing all of one's professional working life??!!

Fucking idiot! Yes, I suppose if I could fine tune my idiot filter, I might not go home at night so stressed.