My Weird Office

I don’t know how it all started. I have always been the quiet one in office, working on my own in my tiny cubicle, going home for lunch and skipping out without the perfunctory small talk with anyone unless I wanted to. Now, I have at least two different “factions” that I hang out with without actually pledging my allegiance to either of them (sounds like Lost Girl, I know :D).

Coming to my project work, I think the Moirae are sitting somewhere and planning my life, trying to one up each other and see how I can cope with the worst possible team mates. The crop gets better and better with every passing project.  Right now, I am spending my days, sitting in conference rooms/ restaurants listening to my project team mate’s problems (both personal and professional) where she is almost on the verge of crying.

Why did this happen? Is there a tattoo on my head saying “Will do psych sessions for free. Coffee included”. I don’t get it! Take today’s afternoon for example, my project mate let’s call her girl-interrupted (GI), comes to me and says:

GI: Hey I want to talk to you for some time today; we need to go somewhere private.
Me: Ok! (Weird look on face) why don’t we go to the coffee place
GI: This is too personal; can’t we go somewhere else, like a conference room?
Me: Ok!

Let me tell you beforehand that I never actively suggested to this person that I am fine with her discussing her personal problems with me. Anyways I tag along with her to the conference room where she goes on for half hour with her story. You know the age old, girl meets guy and girl goes down 100 IQ points and acts like an idiot. She wants to know what she is supposed to do to get him back.  I had no idea what to do. What am I supposed to say to this person? Should I console her and tell her: “There, there everything will be alright” or should I give a practical solution and tell her to boot the guy out of her life? I don’t know her or the guy. Who am I to be able pass judgment and tell her what to do?

When have become that kind of people who talk about their personal lives in offices, these places are supposed to sterile where you just smile and grin even though you had a bad day at home. You are not supposed to rant and rave about it. When did we cross this line? I am not keen on listening to my superiors problems with his wife! I am not their friend; I am merely working with them. I don’t want to know their story!

How do we make sure that we don’t cross that elusive line? I need advice, because I am at my wits end. I don’t want to be that person I think I have enough drama going on in my life already without me worrying about others’ lives.

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