I Needs Me Some Friday

Work ended with a bang today. My boss and a "consultant" were bickering all day long. I was intent on staying out of it. Then I had to help the consultant with writing up her job description! Which resulted with me being in the middle of them two continuing to bicker.

What made it really extra sucky was that I worked with that consultant before, and I really don't care for that person. She's very insecure, a name dropper, and offers a great deal of non-constructive criticism with complicated solutions. She drains one's life force. I usually stay about 15 feet away from her at all times. I ran out of luck today.

I often feel compassion towards her, it seems to me she's had a hard life. Then, she pulls a stunt that shoos the compassion right out the window. Here's an example: It was recommended we delegate a certain task involved in her job to two student workers that once belonged to our college readiness program and are now Juniors in college.

Ms. Consultant grimaced at the idea and said something along the lines of "How are you going to have kids do that task. I'm the one with the expertise." She was referring to parent outreach via phone. Which the students did for us last Summer and with moderate success. FYI - Ms. Consultant was not with us at that time.

I got immediately heated because I believe in passing on knowledge and skills, especially to the younger folks. I replied "First of all they are not kids, both women are twenty years-old, they are adults! And, perhaps what you can do is train them utilizing your expertise. One of them is studying to be a social worker, and the other is working towards her nursing degree! I'm sure they can benefit greatly from your years of experience. This is their internship and we should offer them something a little bit more than opportunities to file and copy papers!" I then walked away.

May I add that I trained staff and student workers in the use of various software and office management techniques that I've learned over the years. I give it away and get so much back in return, without expecting it.