GlassPearl.co.za/blog

I try, I really do. But sometimes I just don’t ‘get’ people.

Maybe because it’s my nature to be direct. Some people consider it one of my strengths and others don’t like it. But that’s besides the point.

Even if I tried, I could never hide how I feel about a situation.

Instead of making as if I’m okay with the fact that people – who I considered work friends – had gossiped and spread rumours about me, I decided to instead just focus on the work aspect.

Because I know I will not get away with pretending to like what they did – and are in all likelihood still doing.

So I’ve been keeping my professional distance, yet being responsive enough to discuss general things. Like the weather, the photocopy machine, the lavender garden, etc. As well as work related conversations.

I’ve even gone as far as to cut all conversations of a personal nature short and not getting into group discussions at the coffee table.

To my bewilderment the very colleagues who started the trouble at work have been carrying on as if nothing happened.

Telling me about their families and what they’ve cooked for dinner, etc.

But here’s the thing. I don’t want to hear it, because I don’t care. And it’s not as if I respond to them beyond an “Oh okay”.

What I don’t ‘get’ is how people can be so duplicitous. Nice to my face and nasty behind my back.

And it doesn’t only apply to gossip and stuff.

If I don’t like something work-related, I will say so. Apparently not everyone does that. Some people will say something before a meeting, during a meeting and then afterwards and none of it will be consistent.

I’ve had a colleague outright lie about what was said in a meeting. When both of us heard the same thing.

How is possible to do that?

Why not just say you think and deal with the consequences?

As I’ve am getting older, I realise that I really don’t need everyone to like me. I’d much prefer they be honest with me.