You’re ganging up on me!

I really like watching educational programmes with an entertainment element. One of these is The Apprentice.
On one series, one particular young lady already stood out to me from the start because of her terrible attitude. First, she thought she was the best sales person on the planet. She wanted to take over all the presentations to potential clients and buyers and everyone could see that she wasn’t good at it, apart from herself. She didn’t listen to what the clients were asking or saying and just ended up annoying everyone. She hardly made any sales. If someone from her team dared to try to point out that she perhaps needed to change her technique, she would jump down their throat. Unbelievable.

Well, on one show, she finally got her comeuppance. Her team and the boss finally had enough of her. She was fighting her corner as usual and when one of the management team told her, “Well actually, the feedback we had from the clients was that they found you really annoying”, with wide eyes she said “REALLY? Well, I appreciate the feedback.” It was just words, it was just the right thing to say because when she was fired, she turned to her two colleagues and whispered “Well done both of you for ganging up on me.” In an interview later on, she said “They wanted me out and they got their own way. They were threatened by me.” Still, even with proof, instead of looking at herself and seeing that perhaps she needed to change, she blamed everyone else for her failure. It was really ugly.

A famous proverb says, “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself…” A scoffer is someone that thinks he/she knows it all. Another says, “Do not correct a scoffer lest he hate you.” It’s just no use trying to help someone like this.

So, if you find yourself saying these kinds of things, “It’s not fair… It’s injustice… People are out to get me… They are ganging up on me”… beware! You are in danger of being this impossible person and eventually, people will not want to work with you or be near you. Instead ask yourself, “Why did that happen?... Am I doing anything wrong?... Let me take on board this person’s advice and try to change…” You will be doing yourself and others a huge favour and you will grow and learn.