Gene, all this is thoughtfully written. It seems like you are talking about
respect, although you didn't actually use the word "respect."
I find the concept of respect quite interesting, having learned a boatload
about it the past five years. The adage "you have to give it to get it" is no
guarantee that you will get respect. The kicker with co-workers and contractors
is that they are chosen by someone else using some criteria that may or may
not include respectful demeanor.
Theoretically, when you hang out a shingle, then you get to do the choosing. In
practice, if shelter and eating make your priority list, there are still times
when you have to bite your tongue, listen intently, and nod wisely.
Rae
Gene Kim-Eng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: You establish your "boundaries of
acceptable behavior" for a given
position by behaving in accordance with the objectives and policies
set by your management for your position and expecting others to
interact with you on the same basis. If your demeanor and performance
support you in the role, most people will recognize it and behave
accordingly. For those who do not, it is the responsibility of the
management who set your (and, presumably, their) objectives and
policies. If your management has not set these for you (and other
people), or cannot be relied upon to provide the necessary support
to an employee who meets them, it is unlikely that you will be able
to enforce them on determinedly uncooperative coworkers or
others by yourself.
Gene Kim-Eng
----- Original Message -----
From:
> How do you establish the boundaries of acceptable behavior when dealing with
> co-workers, especially contractors or
> sub-contractors? It's easier if you're in a department where someone else
> assigns roles to you ("You are a senior technical
> writer. You wear the golden pants. You over there are a level two technical
> writer. You wear the silver cape.") If you set those
> roles for yourself, things are not as clear-cut. Are there any tricks to
> creating and consistently managing your appearance so
> that others treat you as the role you've assigned yourself? For instance,
> when I submit poetry to a journal, I know what my role
> is, the process, and what to expect. But what if I'm hanging up my shingle as
> a technical editor, or translator, or someone who
> takes a more active role?
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