Given the boss—the location does not matter. The time of day does not matter. Even the food and beverage of choice does not matter. I’m not even sure that Greg talking to his coworker Carly matters.
“Carly, I need you to listen to the speech I’ve prepared for our boss,” Greg said. “I think it’s really good.”
“I’m not going to listen to you,” Carly responded.
“But I think you’ll really resonate with what I have to say,” Greg said. “It’s everything we’ve been talking about.”
“I’m not going to listen to you.”
“It has a strong hook about how much all of us care about the company, and how what we want will actually help the company succeed.”
“I’m not listening.”
Greg continued, “It lays out changes to our work-life balance which will bring the company into balance.”
Carly got out her phone as Greg continued.
“It charts a growth plan that seems reasonable and attainable if my suggestions are implemented.”
“It’s not worth listening to,” Carly said.
“I mention allocating the one-week Holiday Inn retreat towards services we could use all year. No more Holiday Inn retreat!”
“We’re still going on that retreat,” Carly said.
“I think I’ve nailed it though,” Greg said. “Why won’t you listen?”
Carly finally answered the question she had been waiting for. “It’s not that I don’t agree with you, Greg. It’s that our boss literally does not listen to us. You’re wasting your time.”
“But maybe he’ll listen to this!” Greg said.
“He walks away in the middle of a conversation. He asks about our weekend and then follows it up with a question about how our weekend was. He does not listen.”
Greg sat with this for a minute. “Should I send an email?”