Professionalism

I've always been careful on this blog to not write anything that may make me or my colleagues look bad. I try to avoid discussing work too much or my customers because I feel I shouldn't make such comments to you unless we're good friends and I feel I can trust you. But I had a situation this week that has me wanting to post and ask for your opinions.

With all the media blitz going on recently, I knew there would be those who are overcritical, who would analyze my every move and feel the need to express their opinion. Apparently, a customer saw my PBS interview and remarked that I nod my head a lot when I agree with something being said and that I looked like a bobble head. And if that wasn't enough of an affront, the worst part was that my colleague felt the need to repeat this to me and other coworkers. Now if this was the first, second, third, heck, even fifth time, this particular colleague has openly criticized me, I would be commended for my restraint, but it wasn't. Along those lines, my other coworkers question if this conversation with the customer actually took place as repeated or if our colleague is embellishing in order to criticize.

Either way, I feel it was malicious, especially given that another customer had made a derogatory comment about this particular colleague this weekend. I immediately defended my colleague and asked the customer not to make such comments in the future. Whether I agreed with the customer or not, I felt it was imperative that I defend my colleague, hence defend our department. Apparently, my colleague doesn't feel the same based on previous interactions.

I've tried to shrug the whole thing off, but find I can't. This has happened repeatedly and I feel I should have been defended and the bobble head comment shouldn't have been spread about to our coworkers. It's rude and malicious. Here is my somewhat professional response to the situation since I can't repeat the other stuff taking place in my head ... Until you've been in front of a camera, answering questions while live, I honestly, could care less for your opinion. And for those who care to repeat rude comments, recall those same statements could be made about you. I looked good, sounded professional, and appeared interested in the dialog. Could the same be said about you on any given day? I will maintain my professionalism and not openly criticize you to customers, but will continue to defend you, knowing that my personal opinion might differ because in the end, I am a competent professional who doesn't need to be malicious to get through my day.