“I can’t stand that guy!”

“Why not?” I inquired.

“Because he’s a jerk.”

“What makes him a jerk?” I curiously pressed.

Quickly proving she wasn’t being a jerk, she said, “I’m not the only one that thinks that. Everyone talks about him. He’s so cocky and acts like he knows everything.”

Like an unsatisfied lawyer deposing a witness, I continued my line of questioning. “What makes you think that?”

“He always walks through here being all fake to everyone like he’s big stuff.”

Wanting evidence, I asked, “How so?”

“He always says ‘good morning’ to everyone,” she said as sardonically as possible. “He usually asks about our weekends and families, but he doesn’t really care about any of us. Not really. He doesn’t take the time to really get to know us.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Do you see the problem?

Are you part of that kind of problem?

We often form a mob mentality about an individual because of one disgruntled complainer. When that happens, we stop thinking for ourselves and dismiss any attempts at another person’s goal of relationship building as something nefarious.

If someone doesn’t speak, we label them rude and standoffish.

If they are in a supervisor role and ask us to do something, they are power-hungry.

If they chat with us, they talk too much.

If they just listen, they aren’t paying attention.

If they ask questions, they are obviously being nosy and up to something.