How to Gain Respect in the Workplace

[Liddle Noodnik]

I am running around the house getting ready for my first of 4 night shifts, knowing that tonight I will have to receive report from a guy who repeatedly gives me a hard time. I often have to ask him to repeat or clarify, and last week he went so far as to ask sarcastically if I was "Special Ed" (special education). "Do you want me to slow down for ya?"

"No," I replied sarcastically back, "I just want you to repeat every single thing that you say to me." I was a bit ticked.

He also ripped into one of his better CNA's prior to going home.

So I am rehearsing my lines: What can I say to this guy so that he knows on no uncertain terms that he can't talk to me, or other people, that way?

Then I realize:

My Tinkerbell scrub top is on backwards. Yes, with the "V" in the back.

How do YOU garner respect in the workplace? (yes, in similar ways to what I almost did). Can you imagine if I showed up at work that way? HA HA! Maybe I shouldn't have fixed it! Wouldn't that be a riot! Unfortunately he is so obtuse he wouldn't have "gotten it".

[anonymurse]

Try The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work .This has a slightly higher Amazon rating than the older, original book I read. The basic idea is to look at the literal meaning of what a person says--not the hurtful meaning they are trying to get you to accept--and turn it into a barbed joke that you throw right back at them. This approach has worked for me all my life. Once I understood that bullies are playing to an audience, I realized that humor was the key. If you can get everyone in earshot snickering at the bully, believe me, he'll quit pronto.

[Liddle Noodnik]

Try The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work .This has a slightly higher Amazon rating than the older, original book I read. The basic idea is to look at the literal meaning of what a person says--not the hurtful meaning they are trying to get you to accept--and turn it into a barbed joke that you throw right back at them. This approach has worked for me all my life. Once I understood that bullies are playing to an audience, I realized that humor was the key. If you can get everyone in earshot snickering at the bully, believe me, he'll quit pronto.

He actually got fired from the job recently for a very funny reason (something he'd be pretty embarrassed about himself!), but I won't say on the grounds it might incriminate him! lol

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Do you work and keep your mouth shut. Don't gossip and don't get involved with people's "stuff". Be fair and use positive communication skills. Keep your charge nurse informed and develop good organization skills. Team work with your coworkers.