Experiencing SamR
Over the past week or so, I’ve heard two nearly opposite descriptions of what it’s like to work with me. I’ve heard that I am inappropriately relentless. I’ve heard that people dread getting email or letters from me. But I’ve also heard that I’m valued partner [1] and that I bring a positive attitude and smile to what I do.
So, why do people experience me so differently? I’m the same person in
all cases. I’ve been just as relentless
with the people who consider
me a valued partner as those who dread hearing from me. As I reflect
on the question, I think there are at least two issues at hand. First,
it may be that I don’t share values with some of the people who dread
hearing from me. For whatever reason, I value different things about
the College or the world than they do. One clear difference is that
I seem to care more about precision in language than others. Second,
it may be that these people don’t understand that most of what I complain
about, I complain about for the benefit of the students and institution
I so highly value.
Alternately, why do people consider me a valued partner
? Probably because
I do work hard to make the College better and I do try to support colleagues
in the work they do. Folks in a wide variety of offices on campus work hard
for our students, and I appreciate it.
Why do the two sets of people view me differently? I’ll probably never understand.
[1] I’ve been called a valued partner by at least four different offices on campus in the past week or so.
Version 1.0 of 2017-10-20.