Some people have very peculiar minds. Peculiar minds= miss communication inevitable. The problem truly gets big when you add to the mix a fiery temper and a propensity to see the worst in others. In my crowded seclusion, such a person can ruin in less than a minute the work of a whole month... By opening their mouth.
One such person did just that this week and the only person I can, in reality, blame.. is my self. You see, I knew this person was someone I have had problems communicating with before. I should have kept in mind the lessons learned in the past of what can be said and how.
In the end, thinking that my communication: "I am sorry that xxx happened. I will fix it first thing tomorrow." Was clear enough. You see in peculiar minds, people don't say what they mean. They have ulterior motives and designs. My mind can not comprehend such. Because of my mind, I think linear thoughts. There is always a word that "best fits" the intention of thought... I always strive for most clear expression of my desired message and that word/set of words is precisely what I mean to say... That is, assuming I have the time to work it out in my mind and then lay out the thought precisely. Few people have that kind of patience. As a result, often I am forced to "spit it out" the majority of the time in the most rough-shaw manner.
Back to why what I said was wrong for this person.. I did not debase myself or take on penance grave enough to prove that my mistake was just that: a mistake. Instead, this peculiar minded person saw my apology as insincere, and the mistake? He saw it as a blatant attack to himself. In reality though, it was a simple oversight that was, as soon as was brought to my attention, fixed to the best of what could have been done. Not even the next level up could have done better to fix the problem.
Now in case you missed (because it is confusing) why my straight forward apology... each word laid out precisely where it belonged to mean exactly what it was intended.. could be my fault: I knew from prior experience with the guy that accepting responsibility and fixing the problem was not what he wanted to hear, at least not so simply said. Remember.. debased and ashamed and completely horrified is the message he wanted to hear.
Opening his mouth, this gentleman spewed his presumption to the wrong person at the wrong time. This person already thinks that I am inevitably going to p*** off every one of my employees and get myself fired because I can't communicate with anyone without problems. The last month has been completely proof negative on that theory as I have, despite my weaknesses, been fairly successful in transition to my current team.
My Crowded Seclusion: never a moment of relaxed guard and feeling successful.
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