When I started working at The Big P there was no room for me in the office, so I hung out in a conference room for the summer. (At the end of the summer we moved to a new building and I got my own office with a door that didn't lock.) The conference room that I was in was glass on three sides, with blinds down over the glass, and it stuck out into the office atrium. We were in a really nice office building and you had to walk past my office to get to the little deli. I spent that summer studying for my Series 7 and 63 exams. For reasons I can't explain, people would rattle their keys along my giant glass windows as they walked past on their way to the deli. Eventually I got fed up and made a "Please Don't Tap on the Glass" sign, which I stuck on the window (with a Post-It Note) between the glass and the blinds. After that it was lots of fun to hear people speculate on why that sign was there and what wouldn't want you to tap on the glass.
I write about my "Please Don't Tap on the Glass" note because I'd like to put another note on my desk now. This one would say "I am not an imbecile." There are two things coming into play here. The first is the fact that when I'm having a bipolar episode I have a very short temper. The second is that Mole thinks I am an imbecile and it's driving me INSANE! Mole has been the best so far at passing off work to me, which is good. However, that means I have to listen to him repeat every day what has been going on with the client. How do you tell someone (that is your superior) that you're capable of remembering what you did in the previous 24 hours? Mole acts like this is an impossible task and always wants to "fill me in on a case." (His use of the word "case" bugs me too because we aren't selling insurance--they are clients. Anyway...) Mole also feels the need to keep me informed with his up to the minute schedule. If I need to know where Mole is at any given time I can look at his calendar. I really don't need to know where he is--I just need to know when he wants his tasks completed--something that he doesn't tell me with all his "filling me in." I can't tell if Mole wants me to think that he is really busy and important and that's why he's telling me about all his appointments, or if he thinks I care. (See what a bad attitude I have.)
I am dreading tomorrow. The Godfather asked if I was putting together meeting minutes for anyone yet. I've done them for Mr. X three times now, so I told him that I was. The Godfather said that he didn't think that I'd be able to make sense out of his notes, so he'd dictate them for me. I've become a person who transcribes dictation.
In case anyone was wondering, now that The Big Cheese is back Guy is wearing real clothes again, instead of basketball shorts and t-shirts. I don't know if this means that his leg has healed (or at least gotten a "good scab," since that's what he was wanting), or if he just knows that The Big Cheese would not appreciate his inappropriate attire.
It is hard to tell whether or not to pipe up when someone is kind of treating you like you can do less than you can. Maybe if you feel there's an appropriate moment (and I don't have a good feel for what an appropriate moment would be in your day) you could fill the Mole (and anyone else who needed it) in with the things you're capable of. After all, I'm assuming they weren't there at your interview, nor have they read your resume. It sounds like you've been hired to a position which is somewhat under your capabilities, at least so far. So if you are up to doing more, see if you can find a time to tell them what you can do. Or maybe ask someone about mentioning it at a Monday Morning Meeting? That way everyone would know what was appropriate to pass on to you, etc. It might be hard to find the right time, but I think if you could, it would benefit you in the long run. It is not an out-of-line thing to do.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could ask someone else in the office (Will? I'm not really sure) who is nice about whether the Mole needs to repeat stuff like he does to you (ie. feels the need) or whether he's just not sure about you. Maybe he just needs to gain some trust in you and your work and then it will stop.
I am very amused at the "Don't Tap on the Glass" thing. I wonder if anyone thought you were a snake. :)