[Day 23] I’ll be monitoring your frequencies

Last week, I talked briefly about some issues I was having with my alleged harshness. A similar incident occurred today, although with different people. The first time, my primary issue was with someone in charge of me. Today, it had to do with people I was in… command of. (Don’t judge me for that… I just saw Star Trek for the fourth time)

I had to speak to two different people privately today about the quality of their work and their abilities to follow instructions. Let me tell you, it was not an easy task. What I really wanted to say was this: “HOW IS IT POSSIBLE YOU GRADUATED FROM FIRST GRADE??? IF YOU DON’T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, I WON’T TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY!!”

But of course, I couldn’t say that. Not as a commander. (Sorry, sorry) It would have been easier and a bit more truthful, but it would also have been tactless and unprofessional. So I did it again; I held back. I was more than nice, I was friendly. Friendlier than they deserved, and friendlier than I expected I could ever possibly be in that situation.

Not only did I grow today as a person by learning to control my opinions and be the leader I should have been long ago, I did something nice for someone else. I spared these two people from inevitable embarrassment. Additionally, I gave praise to people I didn’t want to admit had also grown as people. Once I’ve made my mind up about someone, it’s hard to change it. But I did. And I didn’t just change my opinion in my own head, I made it known. I told other people.

Oh, and Spock? You betcha I’ll be monitoring your frequencies.