Paula,
It just takes practice. You can learn to say no. I did. You just have
to work up to it :)
You start with:
"If I do that for you now, I will fall behind x days on the critical
project I am working on for you"
move on to:
"I'm sorry. I have too much to do"
then to:
"not gonna happen"
and finally, either of the following:
"what part of the word NO don't you understand?"
or (my personal favorite)
"failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine"
Try it, you'll like it
- Paula_Stankus_at_doh.state.fl.us wrote:
> Hmmmm. How come I always seem to be the DBA who can't say no - you
> don't
> seem to have that problem at all.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 3:58 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>
>
>
> The phone rings. Another user. Still pissed off, I pick it up...
>
> "Database Administration, can I help you?" I answer professionally.
>
> Troubled silence on the phone. Politeness is a very bad signal from
> me and
> they know it. He was rattled.
>
> "Uh, hi, this is Joe, technical lead on that super-critical project
> for
> Benefits? Is this a good time? I have some stuff I need moved to
> production?"
>
> The last was a statement, but it came out like a question. With a
> slight
> quaver in the voice, too. Excellent. Technical lead my arse.
>
> "Could you be more specific so I can schedule you appropriately?"
>
> He hesitated. Gosh, I sounded for real. I almost convinced myself.
> The
> victim approached warily.
>
> "I've got a bunch of PL/SQL packages and some outlines to speed up
> the
> queries with special hints. The scripts are all ready for your
> review, they
> include the create statements, the grants, everything. I'm
> forwarding the
> email package to you with signoffs from IT, the user department, and
> your
> own from reviewing our design and test results". This last was
> delivered
> with almost pathetic eagerness. Good boy. Good, simple, foolish
> boy.
>
> If he could see me he'd be terrified by my grin. "Joe, I need you to
> help
> me out. You've just given me 10 minutes of work, but I'm due for
> lunch in 5
> minutes. What do you suggest I do?"
>
> Joe knew better, he really did. But his team had been up all night
> finishing and the prize was so close...
>
> "Look, I really hate to impose. But we've missed several major
> deadlines,
> and department head has made it clear if we screw up again he'll
> outsource
> the whole project and have us laid off. I need it now so we can make
> sure
> everything's perfect for the big production run at COB today".
>
> "Consider it done," I promised cheerfully and hung up. I surprised
> him,
> and maybe myself, with my good spirits. Especially since I was more
> than 5
> minutes late, closer to fifteen, and my buddies were already into
> their
> second beer when I joined them for lunch. But the extra 10 minutes
> had been
> well worth it considering what I managed to do to those hints with
> the
> outline editor. Just the same, though, I turned off my cell phone in
> case
> the twit called to find out why his 5-second queries took almost an
> hour.
> Can't have him taking me for granted, can I?
>
> Later that evening, after quaffing several (all right, numerous) more
> ales
> with the boys, I dialed in from home to check how things were going.
> Mr.
> Tech Lead was still logged in, no doubt desperately trying to
> determine why
> things were taking forever. Poor Mr. Tech Lead, another sleepless
> night. I
> logged off, turned out the light, and slept like a baby.
>
> Next morning, hangover. The phone rings. I snatch it up angrily...
> --
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> --
> Author: Conboy, Jim
> INET: Jim.Conboy_at_trw.com
>
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Received on Tue Oct 01 2002 - 08:18:21 CDT
