I need to rant/expel my stress. We’re getting a new branch manager, finally. He’ll be starting the day I get back from vacation in June. This is triggering my anxiety in a couple different ways.
Both Ted and Goodhair have mentioned about hiring a new manager that we wanted someone “involved in the community.” Today, while telling us about the new manager, Goodhair used that phrase again. And he glanced at me while saying it. He also said we wanted someone who “wouldn’t just wait for customers to walk through the door.” I feel like those are both digs at me. As if there was some community to get involved in if you’re not into beer, fishing, or hunting.
And never mind, I guess, that I tried to get our branch involved in the Adopt-a-Highway program (it would have been a good team building exercise as well as cheap advertisement) but nobody else wanted to do it. And never mind that nobody in management has pushed for getting employees involved in community events or done any advertising to speak of.
Ted and Goodhair also said they wanted someone with commercial lending experience. But the New Branch Manager doesn’t have that, either. At least he has experience managing a branch of a bank.
But to get back to what’s setting off my anxiety (other than a new change to get used to)... at my last annual review, Ted and Old Branch Manager told me I needed to “think outside the box” whatever the that means. I hope they don’t expect me to suddenly turn from an introvert to an extrovert. Or to turn into a salesperson. Or to get involved in “community events” just so I can sell the bank’s products to the people I meet.
I’ve seen how poorly that last bit has gone for both Goodhair and Ted. Some of their worst loans have been made to their “buddies” or people they know from church. I’m not going to lend to my friends (what few I have). That seems like an easy way to lose a friend. I’ve seen how awkward it is for Ted to try to collect from former friends and neighbors.
I want to treat people with respect and integrity. I don’t want to turn potential friends into potential customers, any more than I want to turn customers into friends.
I’ve been trying to get involved in the community. I’ve actually enjoyed going to the monthly Chamber of Commerce meetings these past few months, when I can push down my nerves long enough. I’m also trying to get involved with the city gardening club, but my schedule hasn’t been lining up. If there were local gaming groups, I’d love that. Or maybe a book club? Assuming I could borrow the book from the library, since I can’t afford to buy books (insert yet another rant about not being paid as well as I'd like).
Anyway, I’m stressing out over this. I don’t think there’s really anything I can do but roll with it. It will take some getting used to. I just hope I don’t have a major freak out over it.
Both Ted and Goodhair have mentioned about hiring a new manager that we wanted someone “involved in the community.” Today, while telling us about the new manager, Goodhair used that phrase again. And he glanced at me while saying it. He also said we wanted someone who “wouldn’t just wait for customers to walk through the door.” I feel like those are both digs at me. As if there was some community to get involved in if you’re not into beer, fishing, or hunting.
And never mind, I guess, that I tried to get our branch involved in the Adopt-a-Highway program (it would have been a good team building exercise as well as cheap advertisement) but nobody else wanted to do it. And never mind that nobody in management has pushed for getting employees involved in community events or done any advertising to speak of.
Ted and Goodhair also said they wanted someone with commercial lending experience. But the New Branch Manager doesn’t have that, either. At least he has experience managing a branch of a bank.
But to get back to what’s setting off my anxiety (other than a new change to get used to)... at my last annual review, Ted and Old Branch Manager told me I needed to “think outside the box” whatever the that means. I hope they don’t expect me to suddenly turn from an introvert to an extrovert. Or to turn into a salesperson. Or to get involved in “community events” just so I can sell the bank’s products to the people I meet.
I’ve seen how poorly that last bit has gone for both Goodhair and Ted. Some of their worst loans have been made to their “buddies” or people they know from church. I’m not going to lend to my friends (what few I have). That seems like an easy way to lose a friend. I’ve seen how awkward it is for Ted to try to collect from former friends and neighbors.
I want to treat people with respect and integrity. I don’t want to turn potential friends into potential customers, any more than I want to turn customers into friends.
I’ve been trying to get involved in the community. I’ve actually enjoyed going to the monthly Chamber of Commerce meetings these past few months, when I can push down my nerves long enough. I’m also trying to get involved with the city gardening club, but my schedule hasn’t been lining up. If there were local gaming groups, I’d love that. Or maybe a book club? Assuming I could borrow the book from the library, since I can’t afford to buy books (insert yet another rant about not being paid as well as I'd like).
Anyway, I’m stressing out over this. I don’t think there’s really anything I can do but roll with it. It will take some getting used to. I just hope I don’t have a major freak out over it.
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