Posted on 03/06/2006 by TheNewGuy
Viewed: 731 times
Got a problem sent in to me today. Went through the usual checklist of what to check and what to do. Reaching the end with no solution in sight, I turn to my coworker and ask if she can think of anything else I should try. My boss who was also on the initial problem email (as well as my coworker) sends her an email about it with me standing there. She of course opens it in front of me and in it, it says "let him figure it out for himself". One line nothing more. Yeah, I know reading other people's emails. But this definitely wasn't intentional. Thoughts?
POST A COMMENTcnubelevit(03/06/2006)
All in all, new guy, you seem very intelligent and savy about the ways of the office. I'm sure you'll make the right decision. (Let 'im figure it out for himself)
twizzler(03/07/2006)
Hey New Guy, I'm guessing there is two ways you could take this. One, the boss wants you to learn, the other is he is being a jerk. I've been in similar situations where my boss has told me straight out to not help the new guy, and to let him go through the pains of trying to get something working. His intentions were not bad in this case. I think a little history of the relationship you have with the boss might help determine if he was trying to help you or hurt you. In any case, we are on your side!
SouthernProgrammer(03/07/2006)
I wouldn't take it personally. This may be a point where they are trying to figure out if you can sink or swim. In other words, they want to know if you can handle things on your own or do you need constant hand holding? You are probably trying to do a good job by asking advice but that may be seen as indeciveness. Don't let it bother you, make a decision, and see what happens....
RedStapler(03/07/2006)
I agree with what has mostly been said here... I think often when someone is new to a task sometimes the best way to learn is to continue to rack the brain (we both know that from experience). The email didn't say "let the idiot figure it out himself", it simply said "let him figure it out himself". I wouldn't take this with an ounce of negative thought - he was simply guiding good training skills. I think if he could re-write the email he might have put "give him some tips and then let him figure it out himself".
granularity(03/07/2006)
At first I thought, "Hey!" but now I think Red has a good point. Take it with a grain of salt. There is a lot to be learned by figuring something out for yourself. Hopefull today is a new day for you and has brought a fres pair of eyes to solving the problem. Good luck!
thelma(03/07/2006)
Maybe your boss wants you to dazzle him with your brilliance and not parrot the contents of the small minds around you.
just me (03/06/2006)
OUCH! Here's one of those occasions where you're just going to have to remember who you're dealing with in the future. I mean, once something like that happens, you're always gonna know that that is/was your boss' attitude. ya know? Your coworker sounds like she has a casual relationship with him (the platonic kind) so she'll probably tell your boss you saw it. So...in the next week or so you're either gonna start to get treated really nicely (cuz he's sorry) OR he'll feel freer to treat you like crap (cuz now he knows you know how he feels about you and doesn't care). Let us know what happens!
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