Working With Idiots Can Really Kill You?

Someone shared an article(source unknown) titled “Working With Idiots Can Kill You!” in Facebook.

It came at a time when I was dealing with someone who seems to be ‘not getting it’ and thus tries my patience. I find that a common challenge with most people in supervisory position.   I have a few choices open to me.

First choice – let them stress you out until you land in the hospital.  Have the thought, ‘Why me?   Why give me this type of staff?”

Second choice – allow time for the person to learn.  Some are slow learners but when they ‘get it’ they are very good at it.  Its also the current education system is more theory based and not practical or skill-based.  So how to blame them for not being work-ready?

Third choice – let the person go if you have the authority to decide. Gently tell them “This position does not seem to suit you and its best to find another one”. Wish them well and in your mind, “Good luck to your next employer!”

So what was my choice?  A little of all three. Huh?  Put it this way, I am not totally cool about it because I’m not a Saint.  I have the thought, perhaps the person is not familiar as to what is required, so I offer my assistance and I’m on the verge of telling the person the last choice.  Alas, I don’t have the authority, so I’ll be focusing on the second choice.

Here I would like to share a quote :

Quote by Steve Jobs (extracted from www.brainyquote.com):

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.

How true is the above quote by Steve Jobs.  So you see why I’m choosing to not stress myself out?

Funny sometimes how our learning experience occur.  In this case while writing my musings on the above subject, a research on an appropriate quote leads to the one from Steve Job.  From there my personal learnings are revisited and emphasized.

What I choose to focus on today?

From the personal growth point of view, I should be going all out to learn, to experience and to try out ideas that come my way.

From personal relationship point of view, I should learn to accept that I cannot please everyone and its okay to be the ‘bad guy’ once in a while.

From the personal wealth point of view, I should not be concerned that my friends are moving into a bigger house, buying branded cars, wearing designer clothes or going on holidays.

I will be focusing on :

What am I pursuing? What is of value to me? What am I doing today that is related to my goals?

I will remember – Choose to look for the positive learning from any situation.  Whatever is happening is not worth getting stress out for especially when it affects my health.