Random Musing

It's a cold, rainy morning in Reston. I've got a fat black cat on my lap, which means I'm sitting at a very un-ergonomic angle to type, hoping the computer won't fall from its precarious position on the arm of my futon. I have to twist around further to grab my life-sustaining cup of coffee. A spill (on the keyboard) it imminent.

Is this how you picture me working? Probably not.

The vast difference between our reality and other people's perception of our reality is facinating. This is on my mind because I was talking about it with a friend last night. The context was a work situation where I've been frozen out of having contact with the client (making my job a little harder). I was feeling put upon, treated as a second class citizen, as if my contribution to this project isn't valued. My friend had another opinion...she thinks the project leader feels threatened by me (and my sister), and that's why she's not letting us meet the big guys.

Huh? Me threatening?

My friend pointed out that the project leader never sees the messy office, the fuzzy pink house slippers, and pony-tail piled on top of my head. This woman only sees the professional, organized person who goes out in public. And, frankly, that woman is pretty darn confident and competent. And professional me is a threat to the project leader's position of power on this project. I'd never considered that as a possiblity.

How do others see you? Does understanding how they see you help you understand how they behave toward you?

I have a new insight into this less-than-ideal work situation now. With it, I will behave differently. Now if I can just figure this stuff out in the rest of my life.