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chris68
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« Reply #15 on: April 14, 2004, 02:57:51 pm » |
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Gee I understand your point really, but if someone wants to come here and vent or discuss the issue they should feel comfortable enough to do so. We've all had good and bad days here and sometimes discussing an issue like this is the best medicine for us even if you don't feel it is. Chris68
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gee4
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« Reply #16 on: April 14, 2004, 03:39:39 pm » |
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I totally agree - I just felt there is no point venting and venting, going round in circles when you can actually do something about it - ever tired telling a prima donna she is a prima donna? It might help. Let me now how you get on.
G
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gee4
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« Reply #17 on: April 14, 2004, 04:00:40 pm » |
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Just on the back of this did it ever occur to you that these girls might need guidance, training, tips on how to act/how not to act. Rather than being negative and nasty maybe it would be helpful for them to learn from their more experienced and knowledgeable colleagues. I bet they some of them think this is normal behaviour - after all, we all think something is the norm until we are taught differently. So go on, show them tactfully how to be a PA/admin/secretary without the prima donna traits. Imagine if that was your daughter, would you rather her suffer the chat behind her back or hope someone would help show her the ropes .....
G
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andream
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« Reply #18 on: April 14, 2004, 06:24:35 pm » |
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Exploring a problem and finding skills to cope with a problem while sometimes approached with a bit of humour is what these forums are for. Judgements about other people's desire to explore a subject have no place in these forums now or ever. It's important to remember that "tone" doesn't pass through computer screens and one person's "direct" approach is another's "insult". Getting a subject explored whether thru laughter or serious exploration is what solves problems and Gee, your solution of "just ignore it" might work for you, but it's not everyone's solution. It's yours. That's good. Your solution should be shared, and like any solution shared on these boards, will be used by some, merely evaluated by others.
Getting along with a prima donna in an office setting, IMHO is not about ignoring them. It's about coping. Ignorance means the work doesn't get done, and it means there's no communication at all. Finding a coping strategy even if it's one that makes you laugh for a minute is a far better solution than running the risk of being labeled a Prima Donna BY the Prima Donna cause you don't/won't/can't make yourself interact with her.
Let's remember that we're many here with many unique experiences and treat each other kindly and with respect.
Thanks
Andrea
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nifty50
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« Reply #19 on: April 14, 2004, 07:52:57 pm » |
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Sometimes it's easier to ignore the behavior of a workplace prima donna but when their performance is over the top and work isn't getting done (and it gets dumped on you, for instance), then it's perfectly okay to address the situation in the interests of being professional. In my previous job, I had to step lightly around co-workers who were hired because they were the director's very best friends, and a completely different set of rules or standards applied to them despite having (on paper anyway) the same salary job title and classification level. In that situation I felt it safer to just let it go due to the numbers being against me. Happy to report that my current job doesn't appear to have any serious prima donna population, so it's such a relief having seen both arenas.
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gingertea
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« Reply #20 on: April 14, 2004, 08:45:45 pm » |
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YEAH, what Andrea, Countrigal, and nifty said!
I'm still happy with my melting cheese image ---- and I still need that as a coping method. In this particular case to address this person directly would only make things worse.
As Andrea said, the purpose of this forum is to heed what works for you and mull over other ideas that are presented; perhaps they'll work in another situation down the line.
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raindance
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« Reply #21 on: April 15, 2004, 01:53:45 pm » |
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I have a VERY firm rule when dealing with prima donnas: there is only room for one prima donna where I work, and that's me  . Works every time . Raindance |
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countrigal
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« Reply #22 on: April 15, 2004, 02:22:43 pm » |
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LOL Raindance. I like that. So how do you tell folks that? Do you address it to everyone, or just the Prima herself? Inquiring minds want to know. CountriGal
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raindance
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« Reply #24 on: April 15, 2004, 04:33:28 pm » |
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There's often a little true story attached to the things I say.
Weeeellllll ..... many, many moons ago when I was in my last employment ... I worked in a company which had a level management structure. We worked, initially, on two sites and then moved offices to a completely new site.
There was a "prima donna" person who enquired, when we moved offices, who was going to be "in charge" of the office. What she really meant was: who would be the person appointed to greet people when they walked into the office. The Official Greeter would then indicate, graciously of course, the person whom the visitor wished to see. As you may imagine, I found this slightly ridiculous so I came up with my special rule. I said it with a huge smile and she never did work out whether or not I was being serious, but it worked.
Raindance
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