Avoiding Accountability

The real source of the interminable interrogations

My low delta report at work is driving me crazy. Is forcing me to micro manage by having me review every little stupid thing so that he is not accountable for anything done wrong. Trying to give him subtle and not so subtle hints that he is wasting my time, but doesn’t seem to register. Direct approach works best. I have had to tell him flat out not to bother me with trivial things in the past. It works for a day or two maybe, then he reverts back. I just had to remind him again today. I keep thinking eventually he will catch on to my cues before I have to revert to shooing him away, but no such luck so far.

That’s the key problem underlying the situation: a desire to avoid accountability. And while it’s an understandable preference, it might be helpful to understand that the only way you can prevent being held accountable is to never be given any genuine responsibility.

It’s also funny & predictable that the low status love explaining themselves, except when directly asked to by their superiors.

Because the latter involves accountability, the avoidance of which is the primary objective of the low-status.

Your point brings up an immediate example from yesterday at work.

Basically, a Gamma was asked to go get a small piece of X for Y. The Gamma literally asked half a dozen questions about X for clarification. The Delta who asked him to go get X was so frustrated and exasperated.

Gamma was saying, “I just want clarification so I don’t get yelled at...blah blah.”

I’m watching all this and I tell the Gamma, “You could just shut up do what your told, & leave it at that.”

Textbook Gamma receiving plain as day instructions.

So, if you’ve got someone who keeps asking you questions, it’s probably time for you to ask yourself if you really want to give them any work or responsibility.