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Thursday, April 18, 2013

How Does That Make You Feel?
Question and Character Assessment Giveaway!

My husband and I are going away. Four days. Totally u n p l u g g e d from everything. Not even taking watches to this retreat. (Aren't you jealous?)

So, I thought a How Does That Make You Feel post was in order, which you can all answer and simultaneously be entered into a mini character assessment giveaway!

Without further ado:

Your boss put you in charge while he's away tending to personal business. His week of personal time extends into a month...then on into another month and another. After three months or so, he's scheduled to return. He requests an emailed "report" of everything that has happened in his absence. In so doing, your report includes the following:

-- Four employees quit and/or were terminated.
-- You will need to meet four new employees in four different departments.
-- Half of the funding for a major program is being cut, effective immediately.
-- Your #2 wrote himself out of a job to balance the budget, effective May 1st.
-- The $10,000 camera system installed two years ago is now defunct. No hope of repair.
-- You're #3 will be going on maternity leave in less than 2 weeks.

You hit SEND.


Leave a comment and I'll enter you to win one of my character assessment minis.

Wish me luck on this retreat! We've never unplugged totally, and with a 5-year-old, it's not without its anxiety production for me. But I'm really looking forward to it. See you back Monday!

Posted by Jeannie Campbell, LMFT at 6:00 AM
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RadicalSarah56's avatar

RadicalSarah56 · 623 weeks ago

I would definitely feel anxious. After this time period, so much seems to have gone wrong and I could only deal with it as best I could. These things happened as soon as I became in charge so the blame-game begins.
However, these feelings of anxiety are a natural process and I would most likely feel angry if I was actually blamed and reprimanded for these unfortunate events, considering the boss went way over his allotted time of personal business (almost 12 times over!).
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Lex Keating's avatar - Go to profile

Lex Keating · 623 weeks ago

That's a lot of bad news, and this boss wasn't keeping up while absent. (I had a boss do something similar, though the extended leave was surgery recovery, and there was constant positive communication.) Given that "I" didn't communicate how I had fixed the problems, dealt with them, or what good things had happened in the course of my boss's absence, I would definitely feel like posting my resume on Monster.com. If I'm such a crabby employee that I report problems, not solutions, I should find a new work environment. Stat!
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Anne Baxter Campbell's avatar - Go to profile

Anne Baxter Campbell · 623 weeks ago

At first I'd feel honored that the boss chose me to be his Acting. Then overwhelmed as one awful incident after another unfolded. Then almost panicky as I had to update the long-absent boss.
Next step: Get the house in order, because the boss is probably going to fire me.
~Anne
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Bethany Kaczmarek's avatar - Go to profile

Bethany Kaczmarek · 623 weeks ago

I would feel physically ill. So much lost on my watch. And yet, knowing me, I'd have tried to contact him several times over that meandering absence, and there'd be a little bit of, "You should've called me back. I needed help." (Just being honest.) I'd of course, immediately check myself for that and wonder what kept him away...pray that it wasn't an illness or tragedy. I'd try to ready myself to accept his response, whatever it will be.

And in the meantime, I would. Not. Quit.

I'd make notes of everything I did to try and keep things running smoothly. I'd make sure the four new people were as well-adjusted and becoming a part of the functioning whole. I'd challenge others to keep on, sticking together.

Whatever else happened, I'd strive to finish well, so that I leave (or, mercifully stay on) with no regrets.
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Nancy Kimball's avatar - Go to profile

Nancy Kimball · 622 weeks ago

I'm with Anne. I'd make sure I maximized my insurance with a visit to the dentist, doc and optometrist and be ready to have to pack my things. And I'm jealous but so happy you're going to go be off the grid.
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Linda Samaritoni's avatar - Go to profile

Linda Samaritoni · 621 weeks ago

That makes me feel apprehensive. However, the list looks like most of those things were beyond my control, and terminating any employees would have a good cause attached. As an eternal optimist, I would write a report detailing events, and how each situation was handled. No excuses, just the facts, ma'am. I'd put on my "confident" persona in my face-to-face meeting with boss, and accept whatever he decrees,

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