I’d almost forgotten about this…
Once upon a time I drafted a press release for a charity I volunteered for and emailed it to the CEO for approval and the ok to issue it.
For
some reason it was picked up by another member of the management team, a
defrocked medic, who had obviously once been on an afternoon course on
publicity. They took it upon themselves to
respond with an email reply containing the sort of questions, using long words,
raised by people who think they know what they’re talking about.
Having spent several years in media liaison I was affronted. I’d never really taken to the person in the first place, but had given them the benefit of the doubt and been polite. However that ‘put the tin hat on it’ as my parents used to say. A somewhat tart email went back to them, to which they replied “No fair”.
From Facebook Archives
OK
folks advice and opinion needed.
I
believe someone where I volunteer is a patronising arrogant bullshitter whom I
neither like nor trust. This person has
got right up my nose and I don't want them anywhere near the stuff I'm
doing. However I've just been informed,
confidentially, that this person going to be "a lot more involved in
everything".
Do
I tell the organisation, and person, exactly what I think?
I
could phrase 'patronising arrogant bullshitter' more tactfully but it expresses exactly how I feel.
Do I go all diva and tell them I'll carry on
volunteering as long as I have nothing to do with that person? Not really practical.
Do I soldier on feeling more and more disenchanted
until there is an explosion?
Pink
Kitchen I
think you need to talk to the organisation first, see their response, and then
talk to the person if necessary. You
don't want to be unhappy in something you're doing voluntarily, and, should be
enjoyable! x
Mr
Littlefamily I
agree
Strawangel Agree with Pink. Bad move if you explode and head butt them! x
Bentonbag lol Straw but,
despite having some Scottish blood, I tend to go for the backhander or swift
kick in the shins.
Mr
Mull I agree
with Pink. You'll have to say something
and due to being told 'confidentially' that will have to be, initially, to the
organisation. Everybody needs to know
where they stand or things will only get worse.
As regards to more tactful phrasing I think 'patronising' is perfectly
acceptable and 'arrogant' may be too.
'Bullshitter' is probably not, but is easily replaced by something like
'all talk and no real delivery'. I also
think it may be worth trying to decide whether their arrogant and patronising
approach is just to you or is to others as well.
Bentonbag
From
listening to comments from the paid staff I don't think it's just me, the
person doesn't seem to be aware of or appreciate their experience and skills.
Kentishlady
I agree with
the others on this, but would like to say that the paid staff may be more wary
of coming forward, having a wage to lose. With you being unpaid, it does in fact put you
in a stronger position.
Mr
Mull In that
case it is even more important that you talk to the organisation, since this is
something that is very unlikely to be sorted out between you. I've always been amazed at how often people
will be happy to grumble about 'x' persons attitude/approach but will never
mention it to the people who might be able to do something about it.
As Kentishlady says this may be that paid
staff are worried about their jobs, but at some point the matter will have to
be dealt with.
Pink
Kitchen If
there's anyone you're particularly close to, and they feel the same, you could
approach the matter together. More
voices united is likely to get more done.
The
Squireen You
would not be able to work with this person and as a volunteer you may have to
walk away, but tell them why you are walking away.
Bentonbag
Thank you everyone
What happened was this…
Within a
fortnight Stephen (Fester's Little Brother)’s sudden death, and all the aftermath, meant
that I stopped being involved for over six months, so failed to raise the issue
with anyone. During
this time the person was promoted, provisionally for 6 months, to the position where he was
“a
lot more involved in everything".
Early the
next year, when things got back to what I laughingly call normal, I went along
to an open board meeting. I was invited
to join the board and, there being few of us, was co-opted onto the interview
panel to either continue this person in position or recruit one of the external
candidates.
This provided an opportunity
to read their CV. I was impressed at their ability to accentuate the positive
in their work history, making what I knew to be little more than student
holiday work inputting data into system design and management. I know one is meant to show the best side of
oneself but this went beyond polishing and could have impressed people with less
knowledge and experience.
It
seems the rest of the board had similar opinions to mine.
We
recruited an external
candidate, who proved to be exactly what was needed to bring the charity up to date, but still caring..
The
person was so incensed on hearing the news they had to be literally escorted
from the building.
Fortunately
I wasn’t there to witness it.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG){kind=link}