Ever sit in a meeting with a colleague and watch her be so unable to think on her feet or consider a new idea that she does what political candidates do in debates -- says whatever she planned to say, regardless of the question or suggestion?
I haven't ever had that happen.
Posted by cynical at June 25, 2008 05:03 PMI bought new shoes today. You mean like that?
Posted by: Karan on June 26, 2008 05:39 PMWell, sort of. More like, I say, "How about we try this new strategy where we don't charge late fees at all, but we come up with other incentives to encourage people to pay on time, such as A, B, and C." (Where A and B, if not C, are actually viable ideas.)
And she says, "What we're talking about is how to better inform people about the ramifications of paying late so that, when they get late fees, they aren't so angry about it."
And then I think, "Did she not hear me, prefers not to think about this, or doesn't actually comprehend that I'm suggesting a different mindset that might lead to a better resolution?"
Well, it's more (and less) complicated than that, but that gives a basic analogy.
Posted by: cynical on June 27, 2008 08:58 AMUhh, yes. My former supervisor, the Devil Wears Payless, was notorious for being unable to adapt to changing circumstances. In fact, that's when she'd mine the best cliches from her trove of Dilbertian office vernacular:
"Irregardless, you'll need to utilize your skill sets in an adaptational manner."
THAT is why I knit in meetings.
Karen almost eclipsed the best expression I heard in a meeting "Now, we don't need to reinvent the dead horse."
Posted by: tomorrow on June 30, 2008 10:57 AM