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October 25, 2005
Cat Herding
The part of my job that I like the least is training groups of people. I prefer the nearly-lone tasks of installing, configuring and troubleshooting and developing system management software.
For some reason, though, our clients prefer me over others in my group when it comes to training. Why, I'm not sure. Perhaps because I'm a woman and my personality is a bit warmer than my male cohorts'. I don't know.
As you know, John and I have a large herd of cats - 8 head, to be exact.
I swear, my eight kitties listen better and behave better than the 5 Unix system admins I attempted to train today.
Aside from the loud-mouthed eater mentioned below, I had a manager wander in with a video of his kids that he had to show everyone on his laptop. Nice guy, but I was in the middle of walking them through using the application.
And then, hungry girl, a nice girl, but extremely clueless when it comes to interacting with people on a professional basis, was grumpy because we were running a little late while waiting on another sys admin type.
So she asked someone for a book or a magazine -because she was bored and didn't want to waste her time.
Someone actually handed her one.
I was dumbfounded.
When I once again started the class, she glared at me because I was disturbing her reading.
Don't get me wrong - everyone there is nice, they just need lessons on how to behave in public.
Maybe Emily Post should be required reading for all college students before they graduate from college.
Perhaps that will give them some kind of clue as to proper behaviour when one's employer is paying me the big bucks to teach them something.
But, probably not.
Anyone remember Emily Post?
Anyone?
Posted by Beth at October 25, 2005 4:36 PM
Comments
This is exactly the point I was making last week on my blog about appropriateness. Somewhere along the line individuality beat out appropriateness.
Cats are pretty good at what's appropriate. At least with other cats. And they have a good idea of what's appropriate for YOU too :)
Posted by: caltechgirl at October 25, 2005 4:49 PM
"So she asked someone for a book or a magazine -because she was bored and didn't want to waste her time."
The obvious question being, why didn't she bring her OWN reading material... :-/
Oh, and Emily Post?
Isn't that when you send someone a link to your blog entry? :-)
Posted by: Harvey at October 25, 2005 5:16 PM
Beth - You are too nice ... Those people are unprofessional. They are getting PAID to learn what you are there to teach them, so it's just plain stupid not to pay attention, and to dig in on their own to learn more. What are they - children who have to be called to order? Or Professional adults?
Posted by: Barb at October 25, 2005 5:54 PM
Cat herding can actually be pretty simple. You can't drive the cats to where you want to go, but you can lead them. Just open a nice, yummy can of tuna, walk around so the cats know it's available, and then walk to where you want the cats to go.
Of course, cats being cats, you probably won't get them all, but you'll get the majority. Bribery can work wonders :-)
Posted by: Roger Ritter at October 25, 2005 6:08 PM
My mother taught me manners, thank God. That was when mothers actually cared how their kids acted in public. Now, they're more likely to be offended by someone calling their kid on the carpet over their manners than they would be of the actual display of inappropriateness. Sheesh!
Posted by: Cranky Chick at October 25, 2005 9:13 PM
Heh. Cranky - you need to travel with SWWBO and I. I don't let tight-a$$ Moms stop me.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at October 25, 2005 10:00 PM
Golly - I can distinctly remember learning that I had a choice. Behave, or be clobbered by Mom ... *grin*. I'm a quick learner, manners were easier than a lecture or swat from my parents!!!
Posted by: Barb at October 27, 2005 12:02 PM
And, when the Vulgarians can't perform what it is they were supposed to be learning, that will, of course, be your fault.
Posted by: Jim - PRS at October 27, 2005 3:24 PM
Oh Beth... Make it a room with 270 freshman and I can tell you some stories... or 7 faculty members. Actually I don't know which is worse, freshmen or faculty.
Posted by: Punctilious at October 27, 2005 9:44 PM
Punc- having been both... faculty. Freshman pretensions are understandable - faculty pretensions are impenetrable and usually unsupportable.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at October 27, 2005 10:25 PM
My family was not much on E.P. but I do remember the back of my grandmother's hand.
Posted by: canuck49 at October 29, 2005 12:28 PM