I was working at a call center, and applied to become a supervisor, I didn’t get the position.
My supervisor at the time gave me some offhand feedback about how I was approaching other people and coming off as too cocky because I was really really good at my current role, I was #1 out of over 1000 agents on my call metrics.
Not sure if it was just the right person, the right time, the right method of delivery, whatever, but it finally clicked for me. That one piece feedback changed my whole personality and has given me so much opportunity over the last 20 years.
I got the supervisor position the next time I applied.
Edit: Just wanted to add that teenagers are stupid, including myself.
A good manager can really reset you if you’ve built that trust in ways they can’t even fathom.
I completely feel this. I had one that just said “I think you’re funny, you’re very sarcastic and it’s funny, but no one else here understands it and so they think you’re an asshole”. Also flipped me around, that while I thought I was constantly joking that these people are not my friend group and did not understand my very dry delivery.
Taught me to test the waters a bit before going full sarcasm, and people like me a lot more thanks to that
I had a very similar situation many years ago. I worked for a public school district for 23 years in the IT dept, and one of the teachers told me about 10 years into working there that he finally has learned how to work with me. When I asked what he meant he said, “First I’m going to ask you for help with something and you’re going to tell me no. Then you’re going to laugh and say yes.” While I obviously thought my variety of snark was funny and not at all irritating for someone who just wants help, it really made me stop and think.
After resigning from that job, I emailed him to thank him because it really changed my attitude on how to respond to people in tickets and calls. He probably didn’t think much of it at the time but I hope he understands now how much of an impact he made on me.
I might still be an overly sarcastic fuckwit to my team (who responds in kind), but I’ve been told my customer service is always some of the best and I’m able to talk them off the edge, whether they’re pissed at our organization or if they’re in a tech crisis. I feel I’m able to read them much better now and if they get sarcastic, I can return their energy. But otherwise my default is warm responses and keeping calm until we’re done with the issue.
I was working at a call center, and applied to become a supervisor, I didn’t get the position.
My supervisor at the time gave me some offhand feedback about how I was approaching other people and coming off as too cocky because I was really really good at my current role, I was #1 out of over 1000 agents on my call metrics.
Not sure if it was just the right person, the right time, the right method of delivery, whatever, but it finally clicked for me. That one piece feedback changed my whole personality and has given me so much opportunity over the last 20 years.
I got the supervisor position the next time I applied.
Edit: Just wanted to add that teenagers are stupid, including myself.
A good manager can really reset you if you’ve built that trust in ways they can’t even fathom.
I completely feel this. I had one that just said “I think you’re funny, you’re very sarcastic and it’s funny, but no one else here understands it and so they think you’re an asshole”. Also flipped me around, that while I thought I was constantly joking that these people are not my friend group and did not understand my very dry delivery.
Taught me to test the waters a bit before going full sarcasm, and people like me a lot more thanks to that
I had a very similar situation many years ago. I worked for a public school district for 23 years in the IT dept, and one of the teachers told me about 10 years into working there that he finally has learned how to work with me. When I asked what he meant he said, “First I’m going to ask you for help with something and you’re going to tell me no. Then you’re going to laugh and say yes.” While I obviously thought my variety of snark was funny and not at all irritating for someone who just wants help, it really made me stop and think.
After resigning from that job, I emailed him to thank him because it really changed my attitude on how to respond to people in tickets and calls. He probably didn’t think much of it at the time but I hope he understands now how much of an impact he made on me.
I might still be an overly sarcastic fuckwit to my team (who responds in kind), but I’ve been told my customer service is always some of the best and I’m able to talk them off the edge, whether they’re pissed at our organization or if they’re in a tech crisis. I feel I’m able to read them much better now and if they get sarcastic, I can return their energy. But otherwise my default is warm responses and keeping calm until we’re done with the issue.