April 4, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Insensitivity: A Good Technique?
Bill Nicolich: www.SQLFave.com.
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April 5, 2013 at 2:18 am
Friday morning probably isn't the best time to try to get me thinking to that level, but thanks nonetheless. It's thought-provoking, and a good reminder that, to get the best out of people, we should encourage the use of ALL tools at our disposal. Variety is good, so long as it's properly managed, and the benefits can far outweigh the potential risks.
Semper in excretia, suus solum profundum variat
April 5, 2013 at 4:38 am
Treat others as you yourself would wish to be treated - a Biblical value that is timeless / cluture independent and works - beats psychobabble any day
April 5, 2013 at 7:15 am
This article couldn't be more timely for me.
Thanks!
April 5, 2013 at 7:38 am
Surely dogs speak Doggish? 😀
Yep, please excuse me: it's Friday afternoon and nearly beer time.
The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence
- Martin Rees
The absence of consumable DDL, sample data and desired results is, however, evidence of the absence of my response
- Phil Parkin
April 5, 2013 at 7:41 am
Emotion isn't a bad thing but not knowing when to turn it off can be just as bad as not knowing when to turn it on. We all have opinions but that simple fact doesn't make each one valid or valuable.
Cheers
April 5, 2013 at 8:07 am
In the more social professions (like healthcare, politics, and education), emotions are vital. If you don't have people skills, then you're basically just not qualified for the job.
In professions like engineering, scientific research, and defense, emotions just get in the way. At least that's the case at the lower technical level. Of course every industry has a public facing level, even if only a small percentage of the professionals in that industry are directly involved in it.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
April 5, 2013 at 8:57 am
The problem I see far too much in the work place today is when someone disagrees with someone else professionally about something involving the work, the other person takes it very personally and then becomes uncooperative and combative from that point on. Sometimes, even trying to sabotage the other person, or their efforts on the job because of it. This kind of juvenile behavior has no place in the work place and I have seen it literally destroy teams and productivity. Not all people are going to agree about everything, that's a fact. But that is also what makes this world so interesting in my opinion. So, please leave the personal vendettas and character assasinations at the door. Calling people belittling names in front of others, or refusing to help someone, simply because they disagree with your point of view and such is not only unprofessional, it is so "junior high" If someone asks you a question you don't know the answer to, just say "I really don't know but I will find out." If someone brings up a point of view you don't agree with, then just say "I beg to differ" and explain your point of view, minus calling the person names like a "troll", for example. In other words, don't get pissed off, combative, and revengeful at the person for bringing up a question or viewpoint that you did not know how to handle. That's not their problem..:-D
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
April 5, 2013 at 9:31 am
Belittling and sabotaging the efforts of co-workers goes beyond insensitivity. Fortunately where I work someone like that wouldn't last long. If one is not part of the solution, then one useless. If one is actually creating new problems, then HR is probably already searching for one's replacement.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
April 5, 2013 at 9:39 am
Eric M Russell (4/5/2013)
Belittling and sabotaging the efforts of co-workers goes beyond insensitivity. Fortunately where I work someone like that wouldn't last long. If one is not part of the solution, then one useless. If one is actually creating new problems, then HR is probably already searching for one's replacement.
I have seen just the opposite occur in many shops, those are the very people that seem to outlast the good people. 😀
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
April 5, 2013 at 10:24 am
TravisDBA (4/5/2013)
Eric M Russell (4/5/2013)
Belittling and sabotaging the efforts of co-workers goes beyond insensitivity. Fortunately where I work someone like that wouldn't last long. If one is not part of the solution, then one useless. If one is actually creating new problems, then HR is probably already searching for one's replacement.I have seen just the opposite occur in many shops, those are the very people that seem to outlast the good people. 😀
No doubt that happens a lot. For example, it's possible for the foreman at a manufactoring plant to abuse his employees. But in the professional services industry, the rules of the game are very different.
At least in the long run, like minded people tend to attract and cluster. So, an a-hole boss will inevitably surround himself with either a-hole subordinates or mediocre supplicants. Meanwhile the most talented people will simply walk out the door. At least in the private sector, how long does the shop like that last? They're actually at a competitive disadvantage.
Look at what happened to the financial services industry. At some point in the past their focus shifted from offering sage advice to clients and managing risk to instead high pressure sales and commissions. Not only were managment blind and deaf, but they filled their cubicles with the wrong type of people. Warnings from the smart people downstairs were ignored by management. From the outside it seemed like things were going great for several years, but then the industry imploded.
It's not just polite for management and peers to listen and be open minded; it's ctitical to the survival of the organization.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
April 5, 2013 at 10:38 am
Eric M Russell (4/5/2013)So, an a-hole boss will inevitably surround himself with either a-hole subordinates or mediocre supplicants. Meanwhile the most talented people will simply walk out the door. At least in the private sector, how long does the shop like that last? They're actually at a competitive disadvantage.
Exactly Eric, but as long as the A-Hole CEO has got the "deep pockets financial backing" and/or those juicy government contracts, their a-hole company tends to last alot longer than you might think. But I do think overall, you are right, and this is one of the major reasons why America is slipping in the global marketplace as well.The wrong people are in the critical positions and are driving their businesses into the ditch, and what is really unfortunate is many of these "a-hole" people don't seem to really care either... 😀
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
April 5, 2013 at 11:06 am
TravisDBA (4/5/2013)
Eric M Russell (4/5/2013)So, an a-hole boss will inevitably surround himself with either a-hole subordinates or mediocre supplicants. Meanwhile the most talented people will simply walk out the door. At least in the private sector, how long does the shop like that last? They're actually at a competitive disadvantage.
Exactly Eric, but as long as the A-Hole CEO has got the "deep pockets financial backing" and/or those juicy government contracts, their a-hole company tends to last alot longer than you might think. But I do think overall, you are right, and this is one of the major reasons why America is slipping in the global marketplace as well.The wrong people are in the critical positions and are driving their businesses into the ditch, and what is really unfortunate is many of these "a-hole" people don't seem to really care either... 😀
If we're talking about the government sector, then the rules change again. They have the luxery of pouring more and more money into a bucket despite all the holes. However, the government is running out of credit and the tax payers are pushing back. If there is any silver lining that mess, it's that the government(s) will be forced to change how they do things.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
April 5, 2013 at 11:12 am
Wishful thinking.
Cheers
April 5, 2013 at 11:43 am
Eric M Russell (4/5/2013) In professions like engineering, scientific research, and defense, emotions just get in the way. At least that's the case at the lower technical level. Of course every industry has a public facing level, even if only a small percentage of the professionals in that industry are directly involved in it.
Eric, for the most part I would agree. In the area of scientific research emotion however can be the driving force behind all the research. I have seen over the years scientists driven by raw passion and aggression to solve some issue that is very emotional to them. A doctor who has lost his child or spouse to some disease may out of some emotional drive dedicate their life to work usually trying to find a cure for the disease that took their loved one. They could not be more emotional about their work, and if they lost their emotional they would loose motivation.
Those who are crusaders are driven by emotion, even appearing to potentially be unstable at times they press on to solve problems or prove their theory with enough emotion and passion to kill some other people. And while it is hard to be around a person like that, I am thankful for the cures, proven research, knowledge, and wisdom they bring to all of us.
Not all gray hairs are Dinosaurs!
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