Rants and Raves

When are these big men, carrying 9mms, dressed in their military uniform going to stop playing with their GI Joes, and actually start working?



I'm tired of this. One attribute I can't stand about a person--specifically men-- when they are in a level of leadership, but refuse to act, for fear that they'll have to give the unpopular answer. I hate "Yes Men".



I'm surrounded around them. Whenever I ask a question regarding a new decision in the office that doesn't quite sit well with me, I get answered with this: "I dunno. That's what The Boss wanted."



"OKAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. But what was the reasoning behind his decision?"



"I dunno. It's was his decision, I guess."



Wow. You are a fucking genius. The Boss? gets to make DECISIONS?! Whoa! This is some kind of new age professional work management, I guess! Sign me up for the next Office Bonding session!



Call me assertive, but I think being on a Command Group staff means that you sometimes have to be the unpopular one. A day in my life will likely include a sentence like this:



"No, (for the eighth time) we can't rate everyone as our "#1 Officer", because that's an integrity issue. It demeans the circumstances when we are really rating our Top Officer."



"No, MSgt So-and-So is not eligible for a Bronze Star Medal. Why? He never left his desk? Even to get paper. And he literally never went "out the wire". SGT John Marra received a Bronze Star with Valor for SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE...while he was being SHOT AT. . .So, while MSgt So-and-So may have given you a band aid for your paper cut, or changed the fluorescent light that was bothering your eyes, NO he shouldn't get it. I will, however, give him a Yellow Stickynote of Gratitude. I can pop those suckers out in a second!



"No, we can't organize a Red-Shirt Friday... because everyone wears UNIFORMS, you dippy."



It's a hard job, but sometimes you just have to make decisions that aren't going to please people. I'm sure that's the case with our Boss. But? Don't you think it would be beneficial to have one of his bazillion overpaid staff members talk him through the decision? And give him the pros and cons? And maybe, JUST MAYBE, disagree with his decision and explain WHY a different course of action would be better for the greater good?



Sure, there is a specific circumstance that caused me flip my lid this time, but on a day-to-day basis, I'm amazed about how many times I ask a question to GROWN MEN who have been working in their career field for 15+ years and they can't provide me a FREAKING ANSWER THAT WAS CONJURED UP IN THEIR OWN LITTLE BRAINS! Their beady little eyes dart from left to right, hoping that a magical answer will be telepathed to them.



Autonomy, people. Don't spit out a "SAFE" answer. Stand up for what you believe in. Stand up for what you think is RIGHT. Stand up and defend the "little people"... because although this decision won't affect your quality of life, it most certainly will affect the quality of life for about 2/3 of your Command.



Me? I'm going to stop bitching and start a revolt, errr, revolution.