I’m an easy to get a long with kind of guy but at work I have a few pet peeves that really burn me up. Maybe it’s because I’m the boss, or maybe that I have very little patience, some things can get me worked up pretty quick. My employees all know this and I make it a point to tell any newbies coming in the door.
Having to repeat myself: I hate having to tell someone something more than once. If I have to take the time to teach you something, or show you how to perform a specific task, either remember it or take the time to write it down. I should not have to tell you more than once to spell check your documents, bookmark important URLs, complete urgent tasks first, or keep backups of your files. If a project has special instructions, write them down and remember those instructions for the next time! I don’t want to have to tell you what the special instructions are a second time, and I especially don’t want to have to tell you that this project requires special instructions more than once.
Wasting time: If you need help, just ask. I don’t want to pay you to spend 45 minutes trying to figure something out when asking will get it wrapped up in 5. I once had an employee that I found doing nothing because he was waiting for me to finish what I was doing before asking me a question. Dude, you’re getting paid by the hour. Please! Interrupt me! If you can’t figure something out, and no one is around to assist, move on to something else. Be productive!
Not having something when I need it: Yeah, I’m a “I want it and I want it now” kind of person. But I also don’t expect everything to be completed within the next five minutes. But those things marked urgent need to be treated as such. Don’t work on non-priority tasks when there are priority tasks on your plate. Especially time sensitive ones that hold other people’s productivity up… especially mine.
Of course, when you are waiting on something it’s one thing to not have it when you should, but the frustration is compounded when no communication or explanation is provided that it will be late. Don’t do that! It’s not my job to ask why it’s not ready, it’s yours job to tell me.
Does this make me sound like a complete ass? Like I said, I’m a pretty easy guy to get a long with but I do have things that push me over the edge. You got pet peeves. What are they?
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