There are a few things that you need to know about me before I unpack this blog post:
- If you know me at all you know it is no secret that I am loyal to a fault. If you make it to my texting level of friendship, you have made a life long friend.
- Gini Dietrich tells me all the time I am too nice. I just like to assume I am a Southern gentleman.
- I am very, excited and very proud of my team at Shift Digital. I love getting to tell people who I get to work with each day. I’ve been known to jump into a twitter convo that they are having to remind the person how amazing they are and that I’m wicked proud of them.
All of that said, this past week one of my teammates at Shift Digital was having a great little chat with a - we will call him a young man - who’ve I’ve interacted with on my own for over a year. I love having her on my staff. He made a nice remark; so, I took that opportunity to dote on some of my other staff and introduced him to two others. No sooner had I done that I got this direct message from him:
Maybe it is just me but I was, well, pissed! Really? You are going to “hit on” my staff, then ask to work for with us? REALLY? I am at a loss. When it did it become ok for you to open your mouth like a fool and tell me that you would “take down” two of my coworkers, and yes, my friends? Is there no respect in the world? Is there no value in honoring someone?
Though this young man apologized after I told him it was NOT cool, I still am flaborgasted. Needless to say, this young man will never be working for us, and I will be more than happy to make sure he never works with any other self respecting group that I know.
Question: Are you treating people with respect? Are you back biting, undermining, slandering, “throwing under the bus”, making sexual innuendos, or just being a tool to or about someone? Don’t give me the “all guys do it” or “I was just making sure you were informed” excuse. No, you were not. You were being a TOOL. Words hurt, even if you think they will never reach the person they’re said about. SO, how about you just do yourself a favor and keep your mouth shut? I can guarantee you this if I hear of it or find about it, I will call you on it. I’ll expose you for what you are.
