Don't use that tone with me, Missy!


There is no such thing as a clean start. Take it from me. When you are an anonymous cog in the corporate world, the only place you'll be worn is down. On Friday, a manager who professes to have my developmental needs uppermost in her mind -- and we aren't talking buff biceps here -- told me I would have to take more time to "consider my tone." Apparently I am surrounded by people with "gentle" voices and I stand out like the voice of truth in a silent monastery. Wait, did that sound snippy? Wait, do I care? I will not deny my ability to eviscerate with words. But after realizing that many who are higher in the corporate hierarchy suffer from feelings of inadequacy and that my verbal virtuosity causes panic and lower yearly bonuses for me, I keep it in check in the workplace. It isn't easy, believe me. On Thursday, I was subjected to an impassioned plea to vote for a co-worker in the state election on Election Day. Key point being that said co-worker is not running for office. Incredibly, the stated goal was, "when they count 50 votes for Joe, the candidates will now that we don't support either of them." Oh yeah, George Allen will be up all night wondering what he did to lose those 50 votes. In a crucial mid-year election, stop messing around. If Allen wins and Ballot Question 1 passes, I will hold this mouth-breather personally responsible. But I digress. The point is that despite the waves of stupidity washing over me, I stay pleasant and avoid sarcasm. Fortunately, this manager has discovered it isn't sarcasm, but my TONE that is the issue. I'll work on that. Really.