Reply
Fri 29 Jul, 2005 06:01 pm
i found this on CNN.com
Every office has at least one jerk, pest or loudmouth who drives the rest of the workers crazy.
Could it be you? Take this quiz to find out how annoying you might be:
How many of these statements describe you?
1. You make provocative statements to "foster dialogue" or needle others.
2. You often find yourself delivering a discourse consisting solely of buzzwords and catchphrases.
3. You make up nicknames for all your co-workers and refer to them only by these names. (e.g. "Good job, Chachi!"; "I'm going to have to disagree with you there, T-bone!")
4. Your office is completely decorated with your children's pictures and artwork.
5. You have plastered your cubicle with photos of yourself taken with famous people.
6. It is your trademark to recite rhyming or other cutesy messages as your voice mail greeting.
7. The questions you ask at meetings are preceded by long monologues of your views and accomplishments.
8. You routinely eat odoriferous lunches at your desk.
9. You bring in dishes that you tried to cook -- but didn't turn out quite right -- as "special treats" for your co-workers.
10. People seem tense -- even panic-stricken -- when they see you coming their way.
11. Others back away from you as you speak.
12. You send flurries of e-mails to the rest of the company telling them what you are doing. (e.g., "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom.")
13. You vigorously chew or pop your gum.
14. You wear strong perfume or cologne.
15. You assume your co-workers are fascinated by your personal problems and exploits.
16. You interrupt others while they are speaking or are deep in conversation.
17. You are moody and don't care who knows it.
18. You often give others assignments as they're walking out the door for lunch or to catch the train home.
19. You borrow staplers, scissors and tape from others' desks and forget to return them.
20. Your dialogue with others often end with the other person shouting, "You are so annoying!"
If you counted one or two, not to worry, you quickly can make changes before you're labeled a pest.
If your actions match three to five of these statements, take heed. You are on your way to becoming the source of many an eye roll.
If you do six or more of these on a regular basis, chances are you are already on the office watch list and have been anointed by your co-workers as annoying.
It's time to do a reality check and make some changes. Ask your boss and colleagues for feedback and be ready to listen. If what you hear doesn't fit your self-image, ask them to help you understand what they are saying by giving examples.
You might say: "Tell me more about what I do that leads you to believe that." Then listen, without arguing, defending or justifying your actions.
Remember, there are countless ways to aggravate co-workers -- you even can annoy them by trying too hard to please or being too nice. As long as you avoid the aforementioned behaviors, use your energy for the good of the organization and treat others as you would like to be treated, you should be all right.
And remember, it's perfectly OK to annoy others sparingly. It reminds them that you still exist.
<phew>
Just two outa 20.
#17 & 19.
Number 17, not because I'm moody all the time or anything, but when I am moody, I aint gonna play sunshine. Call me European.
Personally, I get a lot better along with colleagues who'll also just be grumpy when they're grumpy (so you can just go, "oh shes just grumpy", or actually ask whats up) - and sincerely happy when they're happy, as well. The fake, formal vibe where you dont see the mensch behind the colleague anymore just kinda creeps me out.
There, count that as a passionate defence.
Number 19 cause ... well ... what can I say ... ;-)
I'm annoying, but it has nothing to do with any office personality.
Naw, youre as cute as a spring kitten
1.
but, im still annoying as hell.
"19. You borrow staplers, scissors and tape from others' desks and forget to return them."
i think what they really meant was
You take staplers, scissors and tape from others' desks and keep them
Aw, shucks, nimh. Thanks.
OK, so if I did work in an office, I might be guilty of numbers 7, 8, 16, and 17.
Im guilty of :
1. You make provocative statements to "foster dialogue" or needle others.
I came out pretty well, and wondered what was wrong. On a hunch, I plugged in my boss's name, and Viola!
I consider no 1 to be a positive character trait.
Dissappointed that i only scored two ( and a possible half) .
I consider no 1 to be a positive character trait. People who don't do it seem boring
Dissappointed that i only scored two ( and a possible half) .
On the questionaire, I'm perfect, zero score, by my eagle eyed view, plenty enough sardonic in my own opinion, and my zero score seems in itself to be perfectly annoying.
You can't win this thing.
roger wrote:I came out pretty well, and wondered what was wrong. On a hunch, I plugged in my boss's name, and Viola!
I did the same thing!
Especially annoying is that nickname thing.......and people who do that think they are so freaking clever.
For work situations, I only got a 1,
But for instance here, I get a kick out of provoking sometimes.
Oh! and # 17?
Ok, YOU'RE moody today, and everyone has to tiptoe around YOU?
Screw that.
I don't expect a ray of sunshine, but don't try to make your bad mood my problem.
Nah (talking as a number17), you dont have to do anything, not tiptoe or whatever. Just shrug and think, hey, people get moody, I do too - so what?
In return, you dont have to tiptoe around other people´s sensitivities when you´re moody either. Cause its ok. Better than living in The Truman Show... brrr.
Oh, damn!! I have to admit...I used to do that nickname thing. It was really a sign of affection from me. What I mean is, I only nicknamed people that I liked and felt comfortable with -- not just anybody.
But you'll be glad to know, Chai Tea (and everybody else), that I saw the error of my ways. I realized that people like their own names, they don't need me trying to improve on 'em!! Hee! Even if it is out of affection. So I dropped that habit.
After working in an office environment for several years now, I've learned to watch my P's and Q's. Coz' the fact is -- people are darn touchy!!
Don't get me wrong. I think most people are generally nice, but there is definately an office etiquette, and if you don't respect that it can cause you big trouble. You need all the friends you can get.
Now, like osso, I don't think I'm guilty of any of those annoying behaviors -- which makes me sound like some kinda goody two shoes -- which is also annoying!!
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace