Perception

Ladies and Gents,

The topic I want to discuss on this forum - perception. Perception is reality as we know.

I am no longer a supervisor for a group of people after few years. They are older than I am by a decade or so. Most of them were set in their ways. Apparently, they felt I have treated them like a children. I have explained to the management that I have always treated them the way I want to be treated and that I did not act as "parent" but more of an mentor because of my technical skills that they do not have. I have treated them like family by asking how was their weekend, families, etc... I told the management that I want to pass on what I know so my charges can make best decisions and I do have open door policy that they can talk to me anytime about anything. Time and time again, these group were busy finger pointing each other, sharing negative point of views with anyone even not connected with their department and one of them has complained to my manager about my conduct. Next day the other manger interviewed them together and wrote down basically what they said.

A lot of things were being said were taken out of context and were not accurate. I have explained my positions and justifications to each one of their statements. But they apparently made up their minds before meeting with me and that they are stripping me from supervisory role but retaining the title. Later on after the meeting, they somehow backtracked on this by informing me that the managers are not coming after me in that meeting and that I do a good job managing in my primary position in the office and just that I am being overwhelmed with supervising those guys. But I am being reminded that being hearing impaired trying to manage those backstabbers and throat cutting negative people that my physical expressions can be percieved to others as reality as an issues. These guys do not understand that they should be thankful to have good paying jobs and benefits in middle of this recession. I suspect that the management will continue to ask me to help these guys do their jobs but I cannot refuse to do so and will take high road each time despite what these guys has done to me. I have to show that I am a team player.

Granted, some sort of education may be needed but I am more interested in practical experiences and how do others have overcome the perception issues with their hearing reports as well as common peers. Admittedly, being that I am more technical oriented person that personal interactions with my charges are my weakest point. Perhaps stepping aside as supervisor may be a good thing for me? But at what cost - perception that we as hearing impaired people cannot do what others can do?

I am interested to learn what other people in similar positions as I was in have to say in how they were handled in this similar situations with those who are inflexible in their ways?

Thank you,

Twistedinwind

Who are you?

are you planning to stay here longer?

Twistedinwind said:

Ladies and Gents,

The topic I want to discuss on this forum - perception. Perception is reality as we know. ....................................

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I disagree. Perception can be and is in many cases subjective. Just because you are technical doesn't mean that you are a good leader. Have you ever taken any management courses? Have you ever taken any classes on how to interact and deal with people in a management context? Some of what you say about those under you make me wonder. Based on what you have written to us it seems to me that you are quite inexperienced at this.

It sounds like you work with people who are disabled and your HOH am I right? If this is the case a lot of jobs like that have pretty strict rules how the person's are educated and how you treat them. I don't know if I would say that if was due to your hearing impairment, however jobs normally give people the wrong reason for things. Especially if it's something they can't legally or easily legally be able to fire you or demote you. The idea in life is to kind of use your strengths to off set your weaknesses. If you feel that this is due to the fact that you are deaf or hoh than you may want to investigate the matter. If you find evidence that they are just pushing you around a lot maybe you would want to seek employment else where. The right additude in life will take you far.

Wow, this one is a gem.

I am no longer a supervisor for a group of people after few years. They are older than I am by a decade or so. Most of them were set in their ways.

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Answer to your question..

I have explained to the management that I have always treated them the way I want to be treated and that I did not act as "parent" but more of an mentor because of my technical skills that they do not have. I have treated them like family by asking how was their weekend, families, etc... I told the management that I want to pass on what I know so my charges can make best decisions and I do have open door policy that they can talk to me anytime about anything.

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"My charges can make best decisions", your very much older (by decades) co-workers who are "inexperienced" in your own words. You have crossed boundaries by asking about their personal lives and sharing your personal lives.

Your next question..

Time and time again, these group were busy finger pointing each other, sharing negative point of views with anyone even not connected with their department and one of them has complained to my manager about my conduct.

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Here's your answer..

A lot of things were being said were taken out of context and were not accurate. I have explained my positions and justifications to each one of their statements. But they apparently made up their minds before meeting with me and that they are stripping me from supervisory role but retaining the title.

Click to expand...

The piece de resistance...

But I am being reminded that being hearing impaired trying to manage those backstabbers and throat cutting negative people that my physical expressions can be percieved to others as reality as an issues. These guys do not understand that they should be thankful to have good paying jobs and benefits in middle of this recession. I suspect that the management will continue to ask me to help these guys do their jobs but I cannot refuse to do so and will take high road each time despite what these guys has done to me. I have to show that I am a team player.

Click to expand...

S'il vous plait.. why are you playing the Deaf card?

Botts and FF are correct, who are you and are you going to be here long?

Are you here simply because you are begrudged by your workplace and you need to voice off your "angst-ridden" opinions here?


Stick around longer and you'll find out the true meaning of perception, abstract and emotion.

Okay, I apologize for not getting back to this thread as I was extremely busy both personal and professional.

Let's put some things to rest.

1) I cannot reveal who I am because I am bound by corporate policy that governs management conduct that even includes "off-duty" because I am company's representative both on and off. I do the hiring and firing as well as authorize large checks.

2) I am not a hearing person otherwise I wouldn't reasonably post on this board. I am only one hearing impaired person in very large multinational corporation.

3) this is a public forum. I posted SOME of my experiences in this forum sticking my neck out a bit to share SOME of my experience. I am hoping other person would jump in and offers SOME of their personal experiences in similar situation I was in.

4) Mrs. Bucket's opinion remains like that - a opinion. This person does not know me and I could be that person's neighbor passing by. I did not "cross" the boundaries by sharing my own personal events any more than the next person. Judgement calls applies here. You have to remember this that most employees remembers favorite boss or supervisor or whatever just as much as the worst ones. I do still have other employees.

For what is worth, these two employees are now facing disciplinary actions for lying to my superior about my actions. They were caught bragging to their fellow co-workers. The real intent for their actions was that they simply do not like hearing impaired people as a boss and desired to not to answer to anyone including myself. I had recommended to the board that these people be demoted without haste last week. They will make decision Wednesday but I hear that they are considering termination for these employees because of discrimination and potiential liability to the company.

Granted, these guys are older than I am by an decade, I am well past middle age. Now, this episode bothers me greatly that my superiors did not trust me initially on the basis of my employee's statements. Now, I feel betrayed by those and have to watch my tail.

So, Ms. Bucket, I do have strategy to have effective communication with various peoples from various background. Every now and then, someone pops up on scene and demands a change in strategy but never this far as this especially non-verbal portion of communication.

"Barriers can arise at any stage of the communication process. When communication is failing, it is of primary importance to identify where the causes for failure are within the communication process.

Take a few minutes and think about the barriers to effective communication in your organization, division or department. Some of the most common barriers when working with leaders in organizations are:

•Lack of time to communicate effectively
•Staff is spread geographically
•Don’t have the tools
•Language barriers
•Ethnic and cultural barriers
•Educational differences
•Differences in experience of the workforce
In reality, all barriers to effective communication fall into three broad categories. These categories are related to:

1.External environment, e.g.,
a.The space in which you are communicating
b.The communication tools used (handouts, PowerPoint or no tools used)
c.The method of communication (written, verbal, meetings, one-on-one)
d.Communication as it relates to your corporate culture
2.Speaker-related
a.Language barrier between speaker and listener
b.Lack of training for the speaker
c.Lack of understanding of the audience
d.Educational difference between the speaker and the audience
3.Internal receiver-related
a.Language barrier between the listener and the speaker
b.Lack of experience of the listener
c.Educational differences between the speaker and the listener
d.Pre-conceived ideas or opinions of the listener"

I want to close this by saying thanks to everyone including Ms. Bucket for their opinions. But I am more interested in how others interacted in similar situations.

Have a good day to all.