Talking frank for mutual trust
2006年 05月 23日
When the manager suggested another whimsical idea today, however, I turned it down curtly. Actually, it is only I who bells the cat in this office. I often do so when I’m confident with my idea and when the opponent is too confident with his/her idea. This isn’t the case when he or she appears to have given a thorough consideration to his or her idea, in which case I rather try to support him or her. But when the opponent sounds pretty much arrogant enough to believe that s/he is always right or that s/he is always entitled to make others obey his/her idea. Such a guy is the last person I can stand up with. (So I hate authoritarianism, too.)
With my belief as such, I rejected his idea, and explained why I thought his idea wouldn’t work as logically as possible. Although he frowned at first, he finally accepted my rejection and got back to his desk. I know his machinegun suggestions are not out of spite. He is just very active and willing to improve the working condition of the office. So he’s a good guy, too. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that we should accept his idea with no question asked. Sometimes it could be questionable, and other times it could be very questionable. I believe I should be courageous enough to bell the cat when it’s necessary.
I can do so partly (or pertly )because I’m the youngest staff in the office; I have nothing to lose and I don’t have to be afraid of any possible further demotion. So I’m pretty much frank (but, with courtesy, of course) with anybody.
Still, he often consults with me about his idea no matter how straight I am with him, because he knows that I’m the only guy who would object to him. In order to figure out the validity of his whim, he now uses me as his litmus…
I used to be such a guy who tries to gain everybody’s favor, especially from supervisors… But now I learned to know that such a behavior will never nurture any trustworthy relationship with people.
Although my manner of speech to the manager is most direct in the office, I’m still in best terms with the manager. We, the top manager and a lowly employee, often go into a debate in the board room, but our relationship is much better than that of the manager with the other staff. And I’m happy with that.