I’ve come to realize that no matter where you work there is always going to be that one person that you just don’t like very much. When I started working I tried to be positive in every aspect as a employee because I have to admit I do love my job, but Friday I found out who that person was going to be.
My day was going so lovely because it’s been really slow for sales due to the holiday so I occupied my time by reading blogs to get blogging ideas, setting up a new blog for Sarasota, and designing a new template for out blog for the new year.
I was also put in charge of getting the Job Fair ad in this weeks paper. My boss wanted the ad to be creative and different from the others so since our Job Fair is going to be in January I figured a New Years Celebration theme would be just right.
I needed to put the order in with production to get the ad created, but my boss advised me to send them an example because according to him no matter how many times he asks them to be creative they just don’t unless I send an example.
Knowing this I put the order in and sent the production manager a copy of a banner I threw together on Photoshop to use as an example of the color scheme and theme I wanted…”New Years Celebration.” I asked him to use the colors and the theme and come up with something awesome and creative because I knew my banner wasn’t the greatest. Two days later I get back an ad that is boring, green and orange…Yuck. This was nothing like I asked. The banner I sent them was red, white, and blue.
When I sent it to my boss and told him my opinion of how it looked sending him my banner as well he agreed. I forwarded our emails to the production manager hoping that they would do the ad how I asked. Twenty minutes later the production manager comes to my desk and insults my banner claiming it was “clip art” and stating how “unimpressive” it was to him. He was absolutely rude and disrespectful to me. He obviously didn’t care about what I asked for and just wanted to do it his way.
I guess I misjudged his potential thinking he was really creative because he’s the production manager…my bad.
One of my colleagues witnessed this and asked me was I ok. He told me that’s just the way he is sometimes. I really didn’t care because I don’t go to work to be disrespected by anyone.
Ten minutes later the production manager calls me telling me that if I need changes for ads to email him and not the other graphic artists. My response: “Um Hmm.” Then I hang up. He calls again to tell me my phone says “Empty Desk”. Like I really care about that right now…is there something else you want to say?
I was really angry. I felt great until he came with his negative energy and just drained me. I actually felt like there was a weight sitting on the back of my neck and on my forehead. I could feel the energy and it didn’t feel good at all. I tried breathing it away, but nothing worked.
Since I was able to leave early to get the boys I went to pick them up which gave me time to cool down and collect my thoughts. I then wrote him a email where I professionally “checked” him:
I would’ve addressed you earlier about this, but I had to cool off because I do not elect to be immature, but to retain professionalism.
First off I never asked you to use that banner as the job fair ad. I merely asked that you use the colors and theme (New Year Celebration). I even said myself that that banner wasn’t that great in the email I sent you because I threw it together on Photoshop and as a web designer I do know what looks good and what doesn’t. As far as the ad is to be concerned it would’ve been better to discuss how it should look rather than for you to come to me in such an unprofessional manner.
I am a respectful person and I give respect to everyone I come in contact with. With that said I expect to have respect given back to me a well. I never insulted you, but not only did you insult me when I tried to explain to you what I wanted you brushed me off like my opinion didn’t matter when in fact in does because [Name Removed] is whom put in me charge of this project.
Maybe you are stressed because of the holiday and deadline and I fully understand, but I won’t tolerate the disrespect. I don’t know how you speak to everyone else at the office, but as far as I’m concerned I will appreciate it if you show me respect anytime we communicate which is most effective.
I hope you have a nice weekend. Hopefully the next time we talk there won’t be any negative energy present.
Samara
I think it’s important to nip it in the bud from the beginning. I don’t care how he talks to everyone else, but as far as I’m concerned he better respect me.