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#Post#: 41746--------------------------------------------------
S/O from "Thank you for your input, but" thread
By: jpcher Date: November 10, 2019, 7:12 pm
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I didn't want to derail the other thread, but I'm wondering if
anybody else has a story about the topic that doesn't pertain to
stores/shopping? I think it's an interesting topic and can be
opened up to other experiences.
My story:
I had a co-worker a couple of years ago who was pretty adamant
about her thoughts on certain projects going her way. (Some of
you from the old board might remember my posts about Sally.)
One project I was lead on was high profile and extensive. Sally
attended the meetings with me and I thought that input from her
would be valuable since she was relatively new and new ideas are
always welcome to me.
Sally came to me with an idea. I listened to her suggestion,
asked her questions and considered her thoughts and decided that
it was not a viable solution.
I told her "Thank you, it's an interesting spin but I don't
think that's what the customer is looking for." I explained to
her my reasonings (cost, intricate set-up, etc.)
Sally did not take that answer. She insisted (and she was fond
of this) that her husband was an engineer (within the same
company) and it could work!
Don't get me wrong, I was not bashing her thoughts/ideas . . . I
was willing to listen but her solution to the project just did
not stand up for me.
After some additional discussion, in the end I told her "Please,
go ahead and investigate your ideas and present them at our next
meeting. But I am not going to research your idea. That's up to
you. Go for it."
She walked away muttering "I was trying to be a team player."
About 10-15 minutes later I went to her cube and apologized
saying I think you were being a great team player with
presenting your idea to me. However I am not going to pursue
that line of action.
She never did follow up on her idea.
Which brings me back to the S/O title "Thank you for your input,
but we are not obligated to act on it."
Even though Sally brought a new idea to the table, I was not
obligated to act on it.
Does anybody else have stories akin to this topic?
#Post#: 41749--------------------------------------------------
Re: S/O from "Thank you for your input, but" thread
By: NyaChan Date: November 10, 2019, 7:48 pm
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I was putting together a design for a trunk or treat event and
settled on a scene that involves a fireplace. I knew from
experience that it would be easy to print out a large image of
the fireplace, attach it to cardboard and then cut it out to
have a piece that would stand up but allow me to change up the
size easily (wasn’t sure how big the trunk was going to be as it
wasn’t my car) and easy to carry. I mentioned to a fellow
events planner what I had in mind and the onslaught began. “Oh
my gosh, I have the perfect thing for it! You should totally use
the board I made for a game and put the paper on the front of
that!” The board in question is over 3 feet tall, made of wood
and in no way resembles the shape of a fireplace besides being
rectangular. I politely declined but it didn’t seem to
register. She kept insisting that it wasn’t too big and it
wouldn’t be too heavy and I should definitely use it and when
could I pick it up or should she drop it off and oh my this is
going to look so cute! That sentence by the way, is pretty much
exactly how her suggestion was delivered only in real life, it
was longer! When she finally took a breath I got super firm and
said I already knew what would work and would not be using that
board. “Ok, but you know, the board would be so useful for
this...” Gaaaah!!! My idea, by the way, worked perfectly and
didn’t require anyone to drive 30 minutes to pickup/drop off.
#Post#: 41750--------------------------------------------------
Re: S/O from "Thank you for your input, but" thread
By: pierrotlunaire0 Date: November 10, 2019, 8:25 pm
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Years ago, I worked with someone like that. She always had a
great idea that would vastly improve what I was working on. And
she always presented it like: "YOU should," never We or I. It
was always her telling me what to do that would make my work
infinitely more complicated. Bosses Day card and a small (very
small) box of chocolates. "Oh, you should drive to (music store
about 25 miles away) and buy (obscure recording) because Boss
would love it." The first few times, I tried to accommodate.
"Well, that would cost more money." She had answer: "You need to
collect $X from each person, and then you will have enough."
Eventually, I learned my lesson. I would smile, and nod. "Yeah,
that's a great idea!" I had by then learned it was no good
trying to give her back her idea. I would just nod, and then
promptly forget about it. It turned out to be great training for
pushy people in my future.
She was great at suggesting right up until the actual moment,
and then once I presented Boss with our little gift, you would
have thought it was all her idea.
But, god, working with her was a nightmare.
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