January 25, 2011
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Context please
When making a request, I think it's often good to give people a little bit of context just so they know where you're coming from and what you're looking for. My boss, however, for some reason seems to think that providing context is unnecessary as you should ALREADY KNOW what he's looking for.
Boss: Can you read this analyst report on ABC Inc.? Highlight the important stuff...anything you know... interesting.
Me: Is there something in particular we're looking for?
Boss: Anything interesting. You know... stuff that would matter.
Me: Uh...sure.
[2 hours later: Completed readings include analyst report, 3 press releases, and third quarter results report]
Me: The only thing that might be of interest is their projected revenues for the Gen segment but that's it. This analyst's report is mostly about them filing for rate changes on their Pi segment.
Boss: Oh, we don't care about that stuff. [chucks report into recycle bin]
So I'm guessing the two seconds it would've taken for him to read the title of the report was too much. Better to let me spend two hours on this (cuz you know...
got NOTHING ELSE TO 
DO!! ) so that he can throw it in the recycling bin. Gawd, this job is so rewarding....
