Software releases are a major event at our company. Everyone scrambles because project managers and those who think that they are in charge of things cannot plan for beans.
Thursday and Friday were days in which my entire writing team had booked a meeting room and worked on our deliverables for this Friday's release. Some of the writers that I work with and supervise are not swift.
A writer that has been with us for 1.5 years got on my nerves on Friday. I asked the entire team three times whether their work was checked in, so I could go ahead and generate manual PDFs. I frankly think that this exercise is far more complicated than my manager makes it, but whatever. I have stated my case many times. Our writing tool has its limitations.
Anyway, this writer comes back after a training session (I don't think that she learned anything) and asked me whether I had generated the PDF that corresponds to her work. I was annoyed. I told her that I did an hour ago and that she didn't speak up when I asked whether I could proceed. She apparently had a change to make.
This writer was also the same person who sat in another meeting room on Friday morning for at least a half hour before she figured out that she was in the wrong room. She was a part of the discussion on Thursday saying that we'd be in the same meeting room for the next two days. My boss also had sent an e-mail to the entire team.
Then, there's the second newest writer. He created a new branch (version) for our documentation release. He messed up the settings such that all PDFs had for-internal-use-only watermarks in them. He insisted that it was the correct setting. Another writer, my boss, and I all disagreed. I basically had it and said that I had wasted two hours manually generating the PDFs. The other writer was kind to help fix the setting after seeing how frustrated I was becoming.
To add insult to injury, the female writer who got on my nerves earlier said that she had noticed the watermark. Really? And you decided not to say anything. Ugh!
So, I got to work at 08:45 and left at 18:40. At least the weekend is here. However, I have a sore throat, which is never a good sign.
I'm off to rest up, to prevent myself from getting sick and from going insane.
Awww CB...sorry you had such a rough week...I do understand your frustration...have dealt with very similar co-workers. Here are a couple of things I have done in the past to cut down on my frustration and rework...when asking if everyone has submitted their final product, I require that they send me an email so I have it in writing. When I have been in a 'war room' setting, I require each and every person to look at me and give a verbal answer. With newbies, I have them submit their first few pages for review to ensure they are using the correct template and formatting before continuing.
ReplyDeletePlease take care of yourself...warm lemon water with honey helps with sore throats. Sending lots of healing energy.
Hugs and blessings...Cat
Thanks for your helpful tips and suggestions, Cat. I definitely should poll each person to get an answer. With the female writer, she seemed so absentminded during the last two war room meetings.
DeleteI drink lemon tea every day. I did step it up by adding honey to the mix. I also have added more vitamin C to the mix, so my sore throat is finally starting to ease. Yay!
Thanks for the positive vibes. They have helped, too. =)
Writers! Ah, to be able to write even if it's for a commercial aid... And I always thought it was an island of peace at the office. NOT. Well, stay healthy girl, don't let the people at the office get to you.
ReplyDeletePlease take care of yourself,
Han
Thanks, han. It's a new week. Here's hoping that I am on a peaceful island. =)
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