January 18, 2010

Don't Shoot The Follower

The line between bullies and pushovers is tiny. If there was any doubt, I lean heavily towards the latter. I’ve never liked to be a leader and before I was receptionist, I was quieter and shyer than I am now. Part of me wishes I could work the system better. Unfortunately, the battle is decided by who is the most argumentative.

Imagine you’re at a crowded restaurant. Two people have the same problem; they need a table. The pushover would accept the server's apology and wait patiently. The bully, on the other hand, would yell and argue. You know how this ends, right? The bully would get a table, free meal, and an apology because they didn’t want to put up with him. The pushover would eventually get one (maybe with nicer service).

It doesn’t seem right that people get rewarded for being rude. At Disney, the more you complain, the more they pacify you. Part of me is envious of them for speaking up and getting what they want. The other part would rather sleep with a clear conscience.

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2 comments:

  1. So true! People who complain get whatever they want because "it's not worth the fight". Honestly, if people were nicer, I'd just give them what they want without the fight.

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  2. Psshh, you can work the system without being rude! Especially once you've worked in customer service for a while. Asking nicely but assertively usually works for me, with a lot less drama and a clean conscience.

    Also, I'm really good at being manipulative.
    6 of one, half a dozen of the other...

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