Spinals and Flow Charts

I don't get it. A colleague comes into the office this morning. He is the anesthesiologist for the hospital. He was up all night helping a C-section. His work schedule goes against every rule about what your body needs to function, especially when you are poking people with needles…around their spine! He works three full days, day and night and then gets three days off.

So back to the point, he comes into the Mental Health office this morning. He wants help recreating a simple flow chart to use for a presentation in just a few hours. When I say he was looking for help I should say he was commanding help. Even though I don't think they completely mean it, Rwandans have a way of phrasing favors - like they aren't actually favors. So the statement was more like - You will recreate this chart for me. They don't mean to be rude. I think it's part translation and part they have to say yes to helping each other, always (skip ahead to the end with me scratching my head). Also insert the lucky fact that I have no problem saying no to people. I am the rude one in this scenario.

He was looking for Christine, who wasn't in the office. Figuring I knew something about the whole text box/arrow technique, he then asked me. I emphasized how simple it was and gave him a two minute tutorial. Remember that whole sustainability thing? I figured, job completed. Then Christine walked in. Instead of using the skills I just taught him, he proceeded to tell Christine to do it for him.

Now I want you to picture something in your head. You show up to work at 7 am. You've got a staff meeting first thing and there is already a line forming of the patients you have to see for the day. The total will round out to about 10. It looks like a full day ahead. Up to your desk walks a coworker. They tell you to go ahead and complete their work. Instead of promptly telling them off, saying no with tact, or even take some time to consider whether you can accomplish all this today and then taking it on, you just do it, nike style. Without a second thought you take on their work - that they are capable of doing, and besides being tired, have enough time to accomplish.

This is one of those things that can not be stamped with a 'good' or a 'bad'. It's just different. But yes, this is the part where I'm scratching my head in disbelief.