I’ve been lying low the last few months – just wanted to let some grass grow over the whole new dean thing. The HoK had a quiet and pleasant start into the new year and the new dean, so far, hasn’t made any changes that affect me. So I’m happy. Or at least I was until about a week ago.
See, there is this guy called Mikha who works in the mathematics department. He is supposed to be my mathematics liaison which means he does classifications and other such library related things. Unfortunately, Mikha is one of the most difficult imps I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. Talking to him is a test of nerves and endurance. He loves to talk, but never really says anything and he is slow. We’re talking snails pace here. I’ve been putting up with this for a long while, mainly because I couldn’t be bothered to actually sit through a prolonged discussion about his lack of work flow during which he would only tell me that he is such a poor, poor imp with so much to do and so little time to do it in.
Last week though, the limit was reached. By then it had been eight weeks since I had sent him a bunch of memory stones to be classified and described. That was too slow, even for him. So, I set out to talk to him. Wisely I had put aside the whole afternoon for that. It proofed necessary. He rambled on and on about what a pitiful little weenie (my words, not his) he was and how the whole world was resting on his bony shoulders. No wonder he never stands up straight, I guess. This time however his whining went unheeded, not a concept with which he’s very familiar it seems. I think he had a hard time with me not pitying him at all. Well, life’s a bitch. I told him quite clearly that I expected the work I had given him done by the end of the week. I was very proud of myself when I walked out of that office, because I hadn’t raised my voice once and had stayed quite polite during the whole meeting.
The next morning, the head of the mathematics department visited me. Apparently Mikha had had a near nervous breakdown because of our meeting. I actually had to sit there and listen to the head of the mathematics department explaining how poor Mikha was a sensible creature and always close to a nervous breakdown. Therefore, the poor boy shouldn’t be taxed too much and talked to only carefully. After all he was doing great work in general, he just had a lot to do, was burdened with so many tasks.
Then the head of department actually went and said: “You know. I think it would be best if you did not talk to Mikha directly anymore. Well, except if you want to praise him for something, that you can do personally. However, with criticism or workload you’d better come to me and I will then talk to him.”
I was so stunned by the sheer ridiculousness of this, that I didn’t know what to say. Me!
Well, in the end I promised I wouldn’t criticize Mikha anymore and instead come to the head of the department with any problems I had. Of course, I am going to keep to the ridiculous kindergarden-like rule. After all I don’t want to be responsible for Mikha’s total meltdown.
Now, how do I criticize Mikha without actually criticizing him? Hmm…
See, there is this guy called Mikha who works in the mathematics department. He is supposed to be my mathematics liaison which means he does classifications and other such library related things. Unfortunately, Mikha is one of the most difficult imps I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. Talking to him is a test of nerves and endurance. He loves to talk, but never really says anything and he is slow. We’re talking snails pace here. I’ve been putting up with this for a long while, mainly because I couldn’t be bothered to actually sit through a prolonged discussion about his lack of work flow during which he would only tell me that he is such a poor, poor imp with so much to do and so little time to do it in.
Last week though, the limit was reached. By then it had been eight weeks since I had sent him a bunch of memory stones to be classified and described. That was too slow, even for him. So, I set out to talk to him. Wisely I had put aside the whole afternoon for that. It proofed necessary. He rambled on and on about what a pitiful little weenie (my words, not his) he was and how the whole world was resting on his bony shoulders. No wonder he never stands up straight, I guess. This time however his whining went unheeded, not a concept with which he’s very familiar it seems. I think he had a hard time with me not pitying him at all. Well, life’s a bitch. I told him quite clearly that I expected the work I had given him done by the end of the week. I was very proud of myself when I walked out of that office, because I hadn’t raised my voice once and had stayed quite polite during the whole meeting.
The next morning, the head of the mathematics department visited me. Apparently Mikha had had a near nervous breakdown because of our meeting. I actually had to sit there and listen to the head of the mathematics department explaining how poor Mikha was a sensible creature and always close to a nervous breakdown. Therefore, the poor boy shouldn’t be taxed too much and talked to only carefully. After all he was doing great work in general, he just had a lot to do, was burdened with so many tasks.
Then the head of department actually went and said: “You know. I think it would be best if you did not talk to Mikha directly anymore. Well, except if you want to praise him for something, that you can do personally. However, with criticism or workload you’d better come to me and I will then talk to him.”
I was so stunned by the sheer ridiculousness of this, that I didn’t know what to say. Me!
Well, in the end I promised I wouldn’t criticize Mikha anymore and instead come to the head of the department with any problems I had. Of course, I am going to keep to the ridiculous kindergarden-like rule. After all I don’t want to be responsible for Mikha’s total meltdown.
Now, how do I criticize Mikha without actually criticizing him? Hmm…
