OT - strange mannerisms of bosses

7 Jul 2005 3:37 PM

roy.anderson@gmail.com

***Issue:
My boss always seemed like the jittery type. Whenever we'd meet to
discuss a project he'd always seem impatient or disconcerted in some
way and would periodically glance at my hands. I typically didn't think
twice about it.

I discovered something recently though. When I hold my pen and paper in
my hand while he's talking (even if I'm not writing anything), he seems
to calm dramatically, and when I scribble on my paper (actual
meaningless doodles) he seems to enter a state of bliss.

My experiments indicate that this phenomenon extends beyond the
confines of meetings. For instance, if I meander down to my car and
pass him on the way (with NO paper and pen in hand) he gives me an
appraising look with a vaguely suspicious air. HOWEVER, when I do this
exact same thing, BUT carry a pad of paper and a pen, he's all smiles
and typically stops to chit-chat with me.

***Analysis:
Bosses are creatures of habit and as such develop a regular system of
behavioral patterns that they seem loathe to expand upon or modify.
This trait can be easily exploited once the boss in question's weave of
patterns are unraveled.

***Resolution:
I now carry a pad of paper everywhere I go during my work day.

Show quote

:-D

7 Jul 2005 3:50 PM

JT

So, perhaps you can score points by getting him one of those fancy writing
pen sets for Christmas, thus calling up a fond association of you each time
he needs to scribble a note while on the phone.

<roy.ander***@gmail.com> wrote in message
Show quote

news:1120750673.167090.302760@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> ***Issue:
> My boss always seemed like the jittery type. Whenever we'd meet to
> discuss a project he'd always seem impatient or disconcerted in some
> way and would periodically glance at my hands. I typically didn't think
> twice about it.
>
> I discovered something recently though. When I hold my pen and paper in
> my hand while he's talking (even if I'm not writing anything), he seems
> to calm dramatically, and when I scribble on my paper (actual
> meaningless doodles) he seems to enter a state of bliss.
>
> My experiments indicate that this phenomenon extends beyond the
> confines of meetings. For instance, if I meander down to my car and
> pass him on the way (with NO paper and pen in hand) he gives me an
> appraising look with a vaguely suspicious air. HOWEVER, when I do this
> exact same thing, BUT carry a pad of paper and a pen, he's all smiles
> and typically stops to chit-chat with me.
>
> ***Analysis:
> Bosses are creatures of habit and as such develop a regular system of
> behavioral patterns that they seem loathe to expand upon or modify.
> This trait can be easily exploited once the boss in question's weave of
> patterns are unraveled.
>
> ***Resolution:
> I now carry a pad of paper everywhere I go during my work day.
>
> :-D
>

7 Jul 2005 4:05 PM

John

<roy.ander***@gmail.com> wrote in message
Show quote

news:1120750673.167090.302760@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> ***Issue:
> My boss always seemed like the jittery type. Whenever we'd meet to
> discuss a project he'd always seem impatient or disconcerted in some
> way and would periodically glance at my hands. I typically didn't think
> twice about it.
>
> I discovered something recently though. When I hold my pen and paper in
> my hand while he's talking (even if I'm not writing anything), he seems
> to calm dramatically, and when I scribble on my paper (actual
> meaningless doodles) he seems to enter a state of bliss.
>
> My experiments indicate that this phenomenon extends beyond the
> confines of meetings. For instance, if I meander down to my car and
> pass him on the way (with NO paper and pen in hand) he gives me an
> appraising look with a vaguely suspicious air. HOWEVER, when I do this
> exact same thing, BUT carry a pad of paper and a pen, he's all smiles
> and typically stops to chit-chat with me.
>

Wow that is amazingly keen observation! Ever think of giving up IT & going
into poker?

One thing did occur to me though. I was wondering if you have any nasty
hand habits ... for example ... do you constantly scratch your crotch?
Maybe when he sees your with the pen, he's really thinking "Thank god he's
not scratching his crotch again".

;-)

7 Jul 2005 4:10 PM

Michael C#

I would be wary of making any sudden movements around this guy...

<roy.ander***@gmail.com> wrote in message
Show quote

news:1120750673.167090.302760@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> ***Issue:
> My boss always seemed like the jittery type. Whenever we'd meet to
> discuss a project he'd always seem impatient or disconcerted in some
> way and would periodically glance at my hands. I typically didn't think
> twice about it.
>
> I discovered something recently though. When I hold my pen and paper in
> my hand while he's talking (even if I'm not writing anything), he seems
> to calm dramatically, and when I scribble on my paper (actual
> meaningless doodles) he seems to enter a state of bliss.
>
> My experiments indicate that this phenomenon extends beyond the
> confines of meetings. For instance, if I meander down to my car and
> pass him on the way (with NO paper and pen in hand) he gives me an
> appraising look with a vaguely suspicious air. HOWEVER, when I do this
> exact same thing, BUT carry a pad of paper and a pen, he's all smiles
> and typically stops to chit-chat with me.
>
> ***Analysis:
> Bosses are creatures of habit and as such develop a regular system of
> behavioral patterns that they seem loathe to expand upon or modify.
> This trait can be easily exploited once the boss in question's weave of
> patterns are unraveled.
>
> ***Resolution:
> I now carry a pad of paper everywhere I go during my work day.
>
> :-D
>

7 Jul 2005 11:51 PM

ML

I think I know that guy.