I have many, many moments during the day when staff members come in to see me, ring me or just tell me as I’m walking down the corridor something that makes me think internally, ‘You’re telling me this why?!’
Externally, of course, I smile and politely try and point them, very nicely, in the direction of: ‘You could really manage to deal with that yourself,’ or ‘Perhaps you didn’t really need to tell me that!’
Recently, these are some of the moments that have arisen:
The reception manager rang me while I was in the middle of a very busy task. Picking up the phone with my happy face on, she tells me: “The light bulb has gone in the cupboard under the stairs.”
You’re telling me this why?!
Susan hurries into my office one day to let me know that the hand sanitiser by the main door has run out.
You’re telling me this why?!
Lucy stops me in the corridor to ask whether I knew that the post that day had arrived 30 minutes late.
You’re telling me this why?!
Karen corners me by the coffee machine to tell me that someone hasn’t flushed the toilet properly.
You’re telling me this why?!
A GP shuts the door and whispers that ‘AN Other GP’ isn’t pulling their weight when dealing with the on call.
You’re telling me this why?!
The registrar rings up to let me know that Mrs Adams can’t get a COVID test.
You’re telling me this why?!
Clare pops her head round the door to tell me that someone has taken her A4 paper out of her printer again without replacing it.
You’re telling me this why?!
Jill asks for a word to let me know that there are out-of-date items in the fridge.
You’re telling me this why?!
Over lunchtime, Mathew informs me that the height of his office chair has been changed.
You’re telling me this why?!
And finally…
“I had a sore throat on Sunday – no temp, cough and I could taste everything the same.”
You’re telling me this why?!
How many of these moments do you have per day?
PM Polly
December 4, 2020 at 9:01 am
So funny and so true, yet what they really need to tell us they often forget 🙂
December 4, 2020 at 9:03 am
So funny and true, yet when they really need to tell us something they often forget 🙂
December 7, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Yes, good point!!
December 4, 2020 at 9:08 am
I love it….this so sums up my day!
Don’t even get me started on a similar issue that I have with being copied in to emails!
December 4, 2020 at 10:26 am
Oh.. I am so going to remember that… ???
December 7, 2020 at 3:18 pm
Would love to hear about it! This morning I was told about someone’s bowel movements, could it be worse than that??!
December 4, 2020 at 9:18 am
Loads of them particularly off the scale during the pandemic.
December 7, 2020 at 3:19 pm
I think there is a book we could all write, best seller!
December 4, 2020 at 9:58 am
I have only been PM for a year, and am amazed, this is so true. In previous jobs anything like this you would not dream of telling your manager about, you just get on and sort it. On the other side at least they feel confident to share;)
December 7, 2020 at 3:19 pm
This is so true, I haven’t come across it before either in my other roles! I wonder why it happens?!
December 4, 2020 at 10:03 am
Ha ha ha! Ahh Polly, far too many to mention – and so many similar to the ones you have posted here.
December 7, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Perhaps they do it to keep us amused!! 🙂
December 4, 2020 at 10:26 am
Oh.. I am so going to remember that… ???
December 7, 2020 at 3:21 pm
I’m considering getting it as a tattoo!!
December 4, 2020 at 12:40 pm
Clinical Pharmacist strolls past my door en route to the staff loo.
2 minutes later……………..said CP strolls back to my door and stands there.
“What’s up” says the very busy Practice Manager
“The loo is blocked and it won’t flush” says he
“Oh right – were you unable to use it?”
“Er, no” says he “I used it very well”.
“So you blocked it then?” Says the doppelganger for Sherlock Holmes posing as the Practice Manager
“Well, yes, I suppose so”.
“Okay” says Sherlock (I quite like that name, actually) “It’s all downstairs in the cupboard under the stairs, before you ask”.
“Sorry?”
“A plunger, some latex gloves if you need them, and there’s a shovel there as well – just in case”
“But” says the now incredulous CP “I thought you would take care of it?”
“I just have – but feel free to let me know when you need any further advice”
Management. I love it.
December 7, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Actually had a very similar ‘issue’ this morning with a staff member but they did in fairness tell me they had ‘cleaned it up’ – why do we need to know this?!?!
December 4, 2020 at 3:22 pm
I feel this is mainly because we, as Practice or business managers, have to do the thinking for all staff – we seem to be and often are “The Brain” of a Practice and as the brain thinks then we have to do more thinking – and that includes thinking for others.
December 7, 2020 at 3:23 pm
I do wonder if we are at fault sometimes so I am trying to get staff thinking for themselves more but I fall into that – it’s quicker to do things myself moment!
December 8, 2020 at 10:25 am
Brilliant – thought it was just me that got told things constantly and I wonder to myself why are you telling me this. The out of date things in the fridge and toilet one made me lol!!
December 14, 2020 at 6:59 pm
Oh this is great, to be honest I have now started to actually vocalise the “and you’re telling me this why????” Find it works a treat and staff actually are starting to think for themselves.