“You see that? He is having coffee break again.” Phoebe complaint to me. (There she goes again…) I said in my mind.
Phoebe can’t stand the way our new colleague carried himself at work. Adam has just joined the company last month, as the senior financial analyst. He is a smart expat and good at expression his thoughts and ideas through words; exactly what our boss loves to see. I was amazed by Adam’s ability; he can immediately tweak and amend his analysis working to what our boss has just suggested during the meeting. (Wow… I can’t do that. I prefer to amend my work alone, without anyone staring at my laptop screen. Stressing me just by imagining it.)
Maybe he was with multi-national companies before joining our company, every day, he would openly take his breakfast break, tea break at the pantry area, and unavoidable for any smoker – he would take some smoking slots in between working hours.
As for Phoebe, a local, who never realize how ‘chicken’ – the local way of elaborating one who has no guts to do this and that – she was. She would never do the behaviour that Adam has been doing, in front of our boss or when our boss is in the office. Yet, she can’t handle and balance her own emotions in keeps envying Adam’s braveness in taking so many breaks during working hours. As a results, she kept complaining to me when she was annoyed by Adam’s action.
Adam was origin from India; and as a new hirer, he would challenge the bottom line – what can be claimed or reimbursed as staff expenses. Well, our boss favours him so much to the point that each of his claims being approved without any question. For instant, when he went for business trip, he would ‘suddenly’ turn his behaviour to having five meals a day, i. e. breakfast, lunch, tea break, dinner and supper; plus, snacks in between each meal. (Wow, his stomach can expand its capacity whenever he goes on business trip, huh? Or was it his mindset that caused such behaviour change in his meal intake? The ‘all is paid by company = FREE! EAT ALL YOU CAN!’ mentality that he has?) The answer is not important anymore, as he got to eat to his heart content, and all were paid by the company. Lucky him!
“If you want, you can do so too. As long as boss approves it, no issue, right?” One day, I can’t stand Phoebe’s complaint, I said this to her. “If you want breakfast break or coffee break, just sit at the pantry area and enjoy your coffee. There are a few colleagues that ‘follow’ Adam’s pattern too. Boss wouldn’t comment much when we don’t have urgent projects on hand.” I added. She went silent. She was ‘chicken’ again. (Let her be, none of my business anyway.)
When we have project on hand, boss would call for meetings with the team members involved in that particular project. Adam, to my surprise, he would enter the meeting room and join in the meeting when he was not being invited as participant. ‘Thick face’ as Adam, really shock me. Isn’t his action a bit over? But again, our boss like him bluntness; and Adam was allowed to join in the meeting. From thereon, Adam would just walk-in and join the meeting whenever he felt like it. (Funny…)
But time flies, energy changed; good time didn’t last long…
As a start-up company, cashflow was often in tense situation or shaky, to be precise. When that happened, our boss would be so stress. He would be nit-picking on all the reports that sent his way for review and approval. Adam’s analysis reports started to get boss’ challenging questions and nasty comments. Although Adam’s expense claims still get approved, but boss remembered all those details in his mind. Boss saw and kept all inside his head, waiting for a good timing to ‘explode’ all out. On and off, boss would lecture Adam in a jokingly way. Adam’s ‘missing-in-action’ during working hours for his smoking breaks finally got on our boss’ nerves.
Stress can really distort one’s calmness and rational mind. Boss commented Adam’s work behaviours to me when I send my files for his review. (Why are you complaining this to me? Tell Adam to his face, won’t you? Since day one he joined us, he has already demonstrated this; now only you make noise? Wouldn’t it be too late?)
Seems like each one in the office has some self-improving homework to do, e. g. EQ level, greed, jealousy, anger management and the sorts…
I am not perfect too. But I think, through Adam, I have learnt something from him.
1) Dare to ask. When we are not sure if we could claim or do certain thing, just ask! The outcome would be 50:50, either you get it, or you don’t. You have nothing to lose actually by simply posting your question and ask, isn’t it? Don’t be like Phoebe. Do you want to keep jealous and envy on what others are getting? Go grab your chance!
2) Dare to speak. Most bosses especially those from overseas like employees that speak up. If you have any idea or question, just lay it all out on the table. Don’t have to be ashamed that you might post a stupid question. No one will say you’re stupid unless the speaker is low-EQ.
3) Be proactive. Actively participate in project and involve in discussion with the team members. But don’t be as blunt as Adam to simply walk into any meeting and sit down listening to the information shared. Not all bosses would appreciate such attitude. You can try…
4) Be mindful of the situation. Open your eyes and be on observation mode all time. When company is doing good and boss is in good mood, you can try your luck to have more breaks and take granted on certain things. (I don’t encourage this but prefer moderation in our action.) When situation is tense up, stay low-profile and don’t go overboard; you might get ‘shot’ by boss for each and every action you do. Good luck!
