Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

In the hall, in the dark corners that cannot be seen by humans, lurks a monster. We, or us, know the monster. It goes by the name “they” or “them.”

I suppose this post goes under the category of “something that happens almost daily when ‘we’ talk about our problems.” Someone is causing our problems. One thing we know for certain (not) is that we don’t cause our own problems. Someone else is causing our problems.

Someone else is lurking in the hall. They are causing our problems. Life and work would be easy if it weren’t for them.

This kind of talk is easy. Sometimes it is even fun. Nevertheless, it is a waste of time. It is almost always childish.

Now the adults walk into the room. This part isn’t nearly as much fun, but here we go:

1. Stop talking about the monster lurking in the hall
2. Name a specific person who you feel is causing you trouble
3. Name a specific action that the specific person is doing that is causing you trouble
4. Speak with that specific person regarding that specific action

This little procedure usually stops at step 2. as no one seems to be able to name a person. Those who move past step 2. usually stop at step 3. The 1% who perform step 4. feel much better about the world and their little area of work in it.

Note: This procedure does not guarantee success. Problems often persist for those adults who perform all the steps. The procedure, however, is successful far more often than mumbling about a monster that lurks in the hall.