A storm in a teacup

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Sometimes people can react very strongly to situations that isn’t so serious.

John Millen |
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Brian: The whole thing blew up out of all proportion.  I couldn’t believe what happened last week.  It was all very upsetting.  Everything’s calmed down a bit, but the damage has been done.  I can’t wait to finish my internship and get out  of this place now. 

Julie: Don’t do anything stupid.  Only that one thing has gone wrong, and it was probably just a storm in a teacup in the first place.  I’m sure it won’t spoil the final report they send back to university.  You’ve been doing well.  Much better than the other three interns by what you’ve told me.

Brian: There’s been a great deal of pressure on all of us from the day we started. All the managers have expected the highest of standards from the beginning, which is fine I’m not afraid of hard work. But I’m the only one wasn't taken any sickness leave.  The other three have all had days off ill.  It hasn’t been an easy ride.

Julie: So, what exactly happened last week?

Brian: I’ve been working in the business accounts department for three weeks. It’s a job I really like and feel at home with, I’m good with numbers spreadsheets.

Julie: I know!  Doing that job would drive me crazy with boredom!  I don’t know how you do it! Then again you’re studying economics and finance, and that would drive me nuts.

Brian: I love it.  I’m in my element putting figures in columns.  Fascinating stuff!   And Mr Wong, the department manager, could see I was good.  But then I made a careless boo-boo.  I entered some wrong figures in one cell in one column, and I didn’t notice what I’d done. 

Julie: Everyone makes mistakes.  The accounts department where I work are really careless. They make mistakes all the time, and the boss has to sort  them out. And clients are always complaining that there are errors in their  accounts!

Brian: But I don’t make that sort of error. The following morning, Mr Wong pointed out my mistake, and he really lost his temper. He said he expected better from me and was very disappointed with what I’d done. His attitude was very unexpected.

Julie: Oh no!

Brian: But I did the wrong thing, and I started to justify myself. I really didn’t like being spoken to like that.  But I should have kept quiet. Things just got worse and Mr Wong really lost it with me.  It ended up with him storming out of the office.

Julie: Oh, no!

Brian: I didn’t see him the rest of the day, and when I got to work the next day he  was waiting for me and told me the Head of Human Resources wanted to see me in her office tomorrow afternoon.

Julie: You’ll be okay.  Just explain what happened. And keep calm.

Brian: That’s good advice. All I’ve done is make one small mistake. It’s all a storm in a teacup, but I’m really unhappy. It’ll all be sorted out tomorrow I hope, and then I can get back to just concentrating on my work.  Thanks for listening.
   

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