Just another day in the Office
It's another nameless day, in a nameless week, during a nameless year. I get up, throw some clothes on (shower and having breakfast is optional, if time permits), head to the bus, ride to the transit center, take another bus, ride to the stop, walk a mile to the office, and do the work there. Problem is, this day was not a day I was prepared for. Doing my usual routine of greeting the boss, he hands me the phone, utters some command, hands me some papers and says 'Deal with it.'
"Dealing with It."
To say I was blindsided was an understatement. Having to deal with people on the phone with a situation I know nothing about and then turning that situation around was a test and testament to my patience. I can't go into great detail as the nature of confidentiality must still be upheld. First, it was something that the boss did not understand yet expected me to be fluent in handling. To simplify the issue, I had dealt with and 'supposedly' made easier his situation while compounding mine with a migraine from the issue. All the while, the boss laughing it up. He then requested that I help him in other endeavors of this nature. I refused. Fortunately, my suffering was enough to placate him to not demand it of me; such is his mood swings.
My day was totally wrecked. Having tasks that I could complete if given earlier time, they had to be put off for later that day and into tomorrow. But for the first time, I'm now able to reflect what that type of day felt for me, and how to deal with a situation like that while the boss hovers over you.
What I Learned
Interestingly enough, what I learned was three-fold.
- Pick Your Battles. Remember, until you have your own means of income; namely your own business venture, you're at the boss's mercy. It's not a comforting thought, but that is the reality. I was fortunately he wasn't in a 'down-sizing' mood considering the things needed to be taken care of that day. That said, I avoided him a little more to prevent myself from getting blindsided like that again. So far, it's shown positive results; but with a boss like mine, who knows how the wind blows with him and at any time, he may storm my way with another issue.
- Take a Quick Moment to Recover Yourself. This is important both mentally and physically. Sadly in my case and at the time, after solving the issue (I hope) I felt queasy, so rather than bring my lunch back up, I opted to skip through and stick to water for when I needed it. I felt that eating would make the situation worse and possibly spewing what the office brought in for lunch that day.
- REMAIN CALM. This cannot be stressed enough. Flying off the rails is guaranteed to get you fired. That may very well be the reason why I was able to complete the task given. This is different from recovery in that you are in the moment. Fight or Flight. Keeping a cool head allows for information to be processed correctly.
The Takeaway From All of This
Every day you strive to better yourself, you find situations that test your current progress. This was one of those situations. While at the immediate time of this getting finished, I was both exhausted and ill; not wanting to do this ever again. I still feel that last part, but the fact that I was (by the Grace of God; not by my own volition) able to finish what needed to be done is a sign of maturity. At least, I hope it is. Naturally, this sort of dealing with the Boss will change according to the situation, but these three lessons I learned have provided a backbone of experience to fall back on. It all comes down to practice.
Thanks for reading and allowing me to share my thoughts! Now I'd like to hear yours:
How do you handle your Boss? I'd love to hear your stories; but try to keep any trade secrets to yourself. Looking forward to hearing from you!
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