I am repeating the following because, especially in this politically charged year, and in an era of generally the worst customer service I've ever experienced, it bears repeating. I'm having a rough day through no fault of my own but, rather, through the complete absence of accountability in four organizations and seven individuals with whom I'm dealing. None thankfully are clients or even subscribers. Noooooo. They're "customer service reps" and two managers who, instead of resolving my issues as their customer (and in one case vendor), are pointing fingers. Never, and I mean never, have I been bombarded with such salesmanship (read, "B.S.") in my life.
While I'm at it, let me also repeat my mini-manta (a repeated mantra must be perpetual, no?) about expectations. (There's a maxi-mantra as well, but you have to be a subscriber or get a copy of Labor Pains.) If someone asks for a minor favor just before they leave work early, don't do it. If you acquiesce, it will definitely become an expectation. Worse, later it becomes a responsibility. Don't cover for anyone. Don't put away their equipment.
And don't tell me that that wouldn't be teamwork, the second most overworked word in Corporate North America. In a real team, the individual is responsible for his own actions. If he screws up, the team forgives. It doesn't do his job for him.
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did.
Somebody got angry about this, because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done!