Breaking the Cardinal Rule
Anyone who is not a schmuck and works in an office knows The Cardinal Rule: be nice to the little people. Be nice to the receptionist, librarian, secretaries, copy room guys, janitors, and in general, everyone "below" you.
These people are the ones who make sure your work gets where it needs to go, and that you have a place to do your oh-so-important work. Sure, you draft legal documents, but do you actually know how to print on letterhead? Prepare a Proof of Service that indicates First Class Mail and Facsimile? Do you know where extra lightbulbs are kept for when the one right above your desk blows out? I didn't think so.
Everyone knows the old "watch how your date treats the waitress and you'll know how he's going to treat you" rule. But in addition to that, I think everyone should watch how the higher-ups treat the underlings. It tells you a lot about a person, and where they see themselves.
Our receptionist tells me if Name Partner is in or out of the office when I call her (his office is pretty far away from my desk, but he walks by her going in and out). The copy room guys will call me if my fax isn't going through, instead of waiting until the next run and dumping it in my Inbox. Not everyone gets this treatment. But not everyone says "thank you" to the copy room guys. Not everyone compliments the receptionist on how beautifully she decorated for birthdays.
Yesterday, I told Tuna that I had a 12:30 appointment. He needed to have a letter hand-delivered to BFE County. I got the exhibits ready. I had the messenger on standby. Tuna told me to go ahead and have the messenger come pick up the letter. The letter that you're still revising? "The messenger can wait." Oh. You're in THAT mode, are you? Okay, fine. 12:26 p.m. Still revising. Still waiting to hear how many copies of everything he wants. 12:32 p.m. I greet the messenger, apologize for the wait. It's a long drive to BFE County. The closer we get towards late afternoon, the more traffic there'll be. 12:48 p.m. Messenger getting antsy. I am angry. "Hey Green, we need to hand-deliver this to Joe Bloggs also." I find that address and give it to the messenger. He tried to avoid glaring at me, knowing it's not my fault; I try to avoid being hurt by his glare. 12:57 p.m. Tuna strides out of his office and down the hall. Over his shoulder I hear, "Hey, I'm going to lunch. You can print out the letter, make four copies and send it out now."
Gee thanks. Welcome to My Shit List. Granted, it's a typical attorney prick move, and I shouldn't really be that upset. Hell, I've had documents thrown at me before, this is nothing. But what makes this even prickier than it seems is that Tuna is never a prick. So I hope he felt REALLY good acting that way. I hope it's out of his system. Next time I'm going to Peet's, I won't be asking if he wants anything. He won't notice, but it'll make me feel better.
These people are the ones who make sure your work gets where it needs to go, and that you have a place to do your oh-so-important work. Sure, you draft legal documents, but do you actually know how to print on letterhead? Prepare a Proof of Service that indicates First Class Mail and Facsimile? Do you know where extra lightbulbs are kept for when the one right above your desk blows out? I didn't think so.
Everyone knows the old "watch how your date treats the waitress and you'll know how he's going to treat you" rule. But in addition to that, I think everyone should watch how the higher-ups treat the underlings. It tells you a lot about a person, and where they see themselves.
Our receptionist tells me if Name Partner is in or out of the office when I call her (his office is pretty far away from my desk, but he walks by her going in and out). The copy room guys will call me if my fax isn't going through, instead of waiting until the next run and dumping it in my Inbox. Not everyone gets this treatment. But not everyone says "thank you" to the copy room guys. Not everyone compliments the receptionist on how beautifully she decorated for birthdays.
Yesterday, I told Tuna that I had a 12:30 appointment. He needed to have a letter hand-delivered to BFE County. I got the exhibits ready. I had the messenger on standby. Tuna told me to go ahead and have the messenger come pick up the letter. The letter that you're still revising? "The messenger can wait." Oh. You're in THAT mode, are you? Okay, fine. 12:26 p.m. Still revising. Still waiting to hear how many copies of everything he wants. 12:32 p.m. I greet the messenger, apologize for the wait. It's a long drive to BFE County. The closer we get towards late afternoon, the more traffic there'll be. 12:48 p.m. Messenger getting antsy. I am angry. "Hey Green, we need to hand-deliver this to Joe Bloggs also." I find that address and give it to the messenger. He tried to avoid glaring at me, knowing it's not my fault; I try to avoid being hurt by his glare. 12:57 p.m. Tuna strides out of his office and down the hall. Over his shoulder I hear, "Hey, I'm going to lunch. You can print out the letter, make four copies and send it out now."
Gee thanks. Welcome to My Shit List. Granted, it's a typical attorney prick move, and I shouldn't really be that upset. Hell, I've had documents thrown at me before, this is nothing. But what makes this even prickier than it seems is that Tuna is never a prick. So I hope he felt REALLY good acting that way. I hope it's out of his system. Next time I'm going to Peet's, I won't be asking if he wants anything. He won't notice, but it'll make me feel better.
posted by Green at 9/15/2006 04:27:00 PM
2 Comments:
One view a person can use regarding relationships is like a bank. Hopefully one makes small deposits (goodwill) over time. Occasionally everyone needs to make a withdrawl. If your balance is sufficient you can make a LARGE withdrawl.(Really be an a hole, "He's just having a bad day")
Sounds like Tuna made a medium withdrawl, but if he doesn't do it all the time, and has built up goodwill, give him a break and wonder what's going on.
Steamroller on the other hand is into deficit spending on a national size scale. Her goodwill credit rating is SHOT. The poor dear doesn't understand, and may never.
Your emotional and financial shields are on high. You are on the ramparts wearing a breastplate (Viking helmet optional) giving her a hearty pitiless HAH HAH. All dealings are on a cash/carry basis.
Steve, I love your analogy. I'm going to steal it. Hell, I think I'm going to make it my personal mission statement somehow. Perfect!
Green, I hope that it was just a one time withdrawal. I hate people who are permanently idiotic like that.
C
http://lifedramatic.blogspot.com
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