I watched the last severance episode.
A manager (an 80’s looking, strong and tall black man so you identify him) is told during a performance review he “uses too many big words”.
To me, while this character can appear pretentious, he is simply an articulate man, like somebody who was taught at Oxford or Princeton. It’s simply how he was raised, it’s not his “fault”.
I would feel attacked is somebody told me that for trying to use an appropriate vocabulary to describe or explain something, like being posh was something to be ridiculed.
If a coworker told me that I’d use a more detailed description so he understands what I mean but otherwise keep using my regular vocabulary. If a manager told me that I’d start looking for a new job, as it’d signal he feels entitled to micromanage me and a job doesn’t have to be stressful.
Am I too thin skinned?
I don’t know how common it is, but when I grew up, being smart was basically an insult. Not being posh, but any sign of smartness. I was already a quiet kid, which made me a target (because quiet people are smart? My grades surely disagreed), using “difficult” vocabulary is definitely something you had to avoid; kids better not find out you have “smart” interests like computers or reading or something or you’d be ridiculed.
Maybe people carry their hate with them in adulthood but just don’t show it so much (until it’s time to vote 🙂)
Yes, and realizing what a large percentage of such people I grew up with in the tail end of gen-X, I shouldn’t have been surprised by the outcome of the election.
The real problem is that the paper clips were on backwards.
Real answer: if you’re communicating, you want to be understood at some level. Knowing the audience changes the dynamic to fulfill that goal. If you use big words and your audience is 5 year olds, you likely won’t be understood.
If someone gave me this advice, my first reaction wouldn’t be “You’re attacking me!” It would, “Hey, thanks for the advice. Can you unpack it further for me?” In work, I’ve done well by having a growth oriented mindset. There absolutely are bad faith actors, but listening to the advice of others has helped me grow.
I work at a huge corp in the US, and they’re constantly trying to get everyone to get their point across using simpler language. And, there are a lot of positives to doing so.
Yes, you are too thin skinned
I train people on how to speak (to executives, during a presentation, with clients) all the time. In my line of work, a client can end a contract if they don’t like engaging with my team - so it is pretty relevant to the job.
[Shitty Life Pro Tip]
You answer : okay you want me to explain like you are five ? … can do that 😏I haven’t seen the show. From the context you provided and assuming good faith from both parties, it sounds like a skill issue on both their parts.
Don’t understand words? Ask for clarification during the conversation, not after the fact in a performance review.
Audience doesn’t understand your words? If the audience tells you they don’t understand, take that feedback and try to communicate more effectively.
It’s not fair to judge if this is micromanaging or toxic based on the first discussion about it. It depends on how both parties behave and choose to cooperate now that the issue has been raised. Knowing whatever history these characters have and the tone of the scene might paint a better picture of their intentions.
The show is essentially about toxic work culture. It explores all the tropes with the twist that a person’s work consciousness is completely severed from their rest-of-life consciousness; one has no recall of what the other has done.
This is only for the workers and doesn’t extend to managers.
I was told during my apprenticeship by a manager that I didn’t use big enough words. I was later told to ignore him.
You must rid yourself of childish folly
I tend to be a chameleon in social situations. I worked as a server and in retail, and adapting my language and behaviors helped me connect with all sorts of people. How I talked with a group of little old ladies who just came from church was COMPLETELY different than how I talked to the drunks on third shift.
If someone else is using big words, feel free to match them, but most people don’t really care about learning big words that mean the same thing as words they already know. This alone doesn’t make them stupid, as they probably know a lot about other things that you have no interest in.
When I hear someone using archaic words, I don’t assume that they are smart, I assume they WANT TO SOUND smart and that they are too good to act like a “normal” person.
My autistic ass just chooses the most precise words no matter the context, complexity be dammed. Thanks brain.
“I don’t have the time or the crayons to explain it to you” is the best response.
“I’m sorry, let me use smaller words.” is one of my favorite insults. :)
The whole show is about what happens when you go balls to the wall in micromanagement.
Depends on the job a great deal. I can’t use the same words to talk to customers as I can my coworkers.
it takes a special kind of person to work for Lum💧n. Leave your sensitivity, common sense and empathy in your car before entering the building.
Yeah, didn’t that person basically sign up to be emotionally abused without recourse?
I think it’s how they’re taught. There are Lumon schools and they are essentially raised that way. I think there is a bit of a war inside of Milchik of the person he thinks hes supposed to be and the person he is internally, which is a little bit empathetic but also pretty arrogant, but still has some residual sense of right and wrong. Also I think he can’t help but see a lot of allusions to slavery in the way Lumon controls and manipulates Innies, and the way it enforces its principles
Hmm, i guess I need to learn more
Well that’s just my own take, I could be way off base
